Is it the battery?

BDWB

Active Member
Replaced battery last year - about 365 cca - initially started ok - got to pt where bike wouldn't start unless it just came off a long charging session on the tender.

Just bought a tomeika with 465cca. It cranks bike well when just off tender - but if I ride for a while and go to start it struggles slightly - when I hit start it makes starting noise followed by a second hesitation and then fires.
Bike runs great once started.

Is there another issue outside of the battery that I should be looking at? Seems like this battery should start with no hesitation even if it has been sitting off the tender for a while.

Appreciate any thoughts? Could the starter be bad? Ehc?
 

Brew

Troop Supporter
Might want to check and see if your compression reliefs are working. Those can make the starter work harder in cranking the motor over resulting in more of a battery drain.
 

heybaylor

Active Member
You might want to check /have checked the starter..

many a starter has had the field coils weakened/burned out by having a weak battery . slow cranking/no cranking high current to the starter windings.

I assume that you replaced the batteries after it was slow to crank
 

Sven

Well-Known Member
Replaced battery last year - about 365 cca - initially started ok -
Brewskis, see that? He did not say, "it starts the same as the old battery did" in a way, right?


Just bought a tomeika with 465cca. It cranks bike well when just off tender -
Not trying to offend, but clearing the diagnosis breakdown.

- when I hit start it makes starting noise followed by a second hesitation and then fires.
Bike runs great once started.
I kind of see a new battery issue. I do not see a bad E-box or a charging issue.

Is there another issue outside of the battery that I should be looking at?
Not that I can see if WATT you say comes back to the battery in question: is the POWER holding issue. Watt = Power on the ohm's wheel.


Seems like this battery should start with no hesitation even if it has been sitting off the tender for a while.
For these two opinions to settle out, watt saye? My bike never lagged with the 365, but a NEW [who charged it/wet it/let it sit for how long] or prorate my battery [tell them] or run a BS style.

BS means, Battery [ACID] Supplied. And then you control the charging or a very special way to charge the battery when new. Read the instructions that came with it. Follow it to the letter if not?
 

Sven

Well-Known Member
It cranks bike well when just off tender -
You might want to check /have checked the starter..
I may be going at the opposite end here between the last two suggestions, but do you see how well the bike starts if it had a bad starter? WATT you are saying is my house is burned out and gutted but I stay dry in the smoulder when it rains?
 

IRONHEAD

Active Member
Just when I thought I was making progress understanding Sven, this thread comes along and sets me back years...:D
 

BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
After a LONG day of working on the wiring on my bike I need what ever Sven is takin or smokin....

I'd check the compression release valves first, the battery terminals second and then the starter wires for a tight fit and no corrosion. My old S&S would do that all the time, did it for years. Spin like crazy right off the charger and then later grunt to start. Never changed the starter because it always started. If you do decide to get another starter get that one rebuilt. It's a lot cheaper and a local shop that repairs starters/ alternators can do it
 

BDWB

Active Member
Thanks all for the feedback - will check the suggested areas. It's kind of like lifting weights - first rep goes up- rack it- come back for next set and the same person/battery strains to push.
 
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