Cold Start Tip

Energy One
IrishGuy

IrishGuy

Active Member
With temperatures in the 10-30F range here in utah, it's exceedingly hard to get that initial turnover to start the bike. It's so damn annoying pressing start and only hearing a 'click'.. and then silence. :angry: I got a tender which helped a lot, but the problem still persists below 40F.

I was worried my starter was going out.. :rant:

But I tried something new--and it worked wonders.

I got a $50 space heater from costso. Just point the damn thing at the engine and wait an hour. Works like a charm. :D Don't even need to use the choke anymore. :cheers:

The bike fires up effortlessly in all temps, even without being on a tender :up:
 
Tim

Tim

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Great tip... does it get the seat warm too? :up:
 
P8RIOT

P8RIOT

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It would still be a good idea to leave it connected to the Battery Tender.

In the cold Montana winters, we used to use head bolt heaters to keep the oil warm, and also place something like an electric blanket around the battery (this being in cars). That would allow startups as low as 40 below. Temperature really affects the output potential of a battery.
 
V

Vegas

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Think about how thick 20w50 is at 15 degrees. Why you would ride it in that weather is beyond me. :D Definitely a good idea to give her some heat first.
 
chacha

chacha

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Good tip. I may hare to start my morning by firing up the propane heater!

P8RIOT wrote;
we used to use head bolt heaters to keep the oil warm, and also place something like an electric blanket around the battery
Click to expand...
Wow... back in the day! I didn't know that the Model-T had a battery or head bolts!!:lol: :lol: :lol:
 
KnotSo

KnotSo

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we used to use head bolt heaters to keep the oil warm,
Click to expand...
Is this still a good idea?

I have no trouble starting my scoot down to about 30 degrees.

I am hoping for lunch this week ofer in Gig Harbor, at the Tides maybe. Hope the weather clears up.
 
P8RIOT

P8RIOT

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chacha said:
Wow... back in the day! I didn't know that the Model-T had a battery or head bolts!!:lol: :lol: :lol:
Click to expand...
Yeah, I figured someone would razz me about that - but crap, chacha - a MODEL-T??:eek: :loony: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
G

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
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Yeah I've done that before with bikes and other stuff like generators...

I got a small electric heater I run on the lift when I'm wrenching in the winter... it works great to keep me warm while working... in conjunction with my kero heater running by the bench.
 
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