Starting Issues

BWG56

Guru
I had all the issues that you are describing until I bit the bullet and installed my ESC from Deadonecustoms.com, now I don't even put the bike on a tender at all, just yesterday I went out to the garage and my bike fired right up after sitting for over 2 weeks! I could have never done that before, I think the original EHC had a memory so it drained the battery even when it was sitting.

:agree::agree: Thats exactly why we needed a tender all the time, ECH has memory and it was used for warranty purposes if you bought it new so they could check if you were breaking in the motor as they specified, and they could tell you how many times you hit the rev limiter if you missed a shift or just ran it up. Big brother was keeping track of your break in procedure.:oldnono:
I keep it on the Tender and still have the same issue a majority of the time I go to start it up...
Mine did the same, push the run /start and it would hesitate like it was building up for about 1-3 seconds and then turn over, since the ESC, when I hit the button its immediate start
 

cdogg556

Guru
:agree::agree: Thats exactly why we needed a tender all the time, ECH has memory and it was used for warranty purposes if you bought it new so they could check if you were breaking in the motor as they specified, and they could tell you how many times you hit the rev limiter if you missed a shift or just ran it up. Big brother was keeping track of your break in procedure.:oldnono:

Mine did the same, push the run /start and it would hesitate like it was building up for about 1-3 seconds and then turn over, since the ESC, when I hit the button its immediate start
Finally we agree on something ya wanker! :old2::old2::old2:
 

BWG56

Guru
Mine was doing some other funky shit that I couldn't explain also that I think was coming from the ECH, like the 2 times I trailered it home from Daytona and it was completely dead, no nothing, dead. It happened twice about 12 months apart:oldconfused: After it sat in the garage for 2 hrs, it started right up, both times:crazybitch: just too wierd
 

Hammer1

New Member
Just bought a 2005 Chopper 4 weeks ago and I'm so pleased with the looks of this bike. Problem is that if the bike doesn't turnover within the few first attempts, it appears to slowly wear the battery down. I had the battery on a trickle charger and same result. Bought a brand new battery and again same issue. Once started I can drive 40 miles on the highway and turn the bike off and have the same issue. The current resolution is to jump it from a running vechile battery and it starts right up every time. I'm thinking a starter issue, but before I take it to HD Service I would like to have a good understanding of whats going on. Any suggestions?
Had the same issue a while back. My compression releases were not electronically activating. I pushed them in manually and bike fired right up. Discovered after 2 batteries that were on trickle charge the whole time and showed fully charged. After manually actuating the compression releases for a while they seemed to work fine from the pushbutton run switch. I also found that vibration would loosen the bolts on the battery after a while. Now every two weeks take the seat off and tighten the bolts on both positive and negative posts. With the price of batteries up to close to $200 it is worth at try.
 

Hammer1

New Member
So I would like to thank all of you who have taken the time to reply. With the holidays, family time. and cold weather , I haven't spent much time on this mystery. The old battery I had and the new one I bought has 310 cranking amps and both have been load tested. The 310 CCA is what Batteries Plus says is recommend by the manufacture. In regards to jumping it from a running vehicle, I have only done this a couple of times to test my theory that is a battery to starter problem. Some of you have mentioned compression releases as a possible cause. Forgive my ignorance but how does one check that?
Look at the top of your rocker box covers and there should be two plastic (flexible) caps (one on each head). Press the cap in on both cylinders and you will feel a little resistance. If it then cranks a good indicator. That is the easiest way I know.
 

Threwithu

Member
While I dont exactly have this issue, I have a similar one, which seems to be common among these. My issue is, 96% of the time, when you hit the start button, the bike cranks about 1/2 a crank like its building up compression, then almost stops for a split second, as if the Compression releases are working and the battery is drained/discharged, then finally spins the bike over. The alarm sounds as a result, on the rare occasion, after its been started and running, it will spin over normally when starting...
Sounds like what mine does. Plan to work with it this weekend. I plan to upload a video of it starting up. Im guessing by the way you describing your issues, you will find some similarity.
 

Threwithu

Member
I had all the issues that you are describing until I bit the bullet and installed my ESC from Deadonecustoms.com, now I don't even put the bike on a tender at all, just yesterday I went out to the garage and my bike fired right up after sitting for over 2 weeks! I could have never done that before, I think the original EHC had a memory so it drained the battery even when it was sitting.
How difficult is the install?
 

BWG56

Guru
Remove battery, battery covers and gas tank, remove old harness and install new one, 2-5 hrs, but there are other recommendations to do also with the rest of the connectors on the bike. Wires are color coded to match existing and labeled. on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the hardest, about a 4.
 

Bdm4ever

Well-Known Member
Troop Supporter
Remove battery, battery covers and gas tank, remove old harness and install new one, 2-5 hrs, but there are other recommendations to do also with the rest of the connectors on the bike. Wires are color coded to match existing and labeled. on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the hardest, about a 4.
Great write up Ker! It took me a bit longer when I did it. I'm a rookie at fixing anything mechanical this was my first attempt. If I can do it myself with just a few helpful hints along the way from DOC, anyone can do it. I really have no skill here. The reason it too 13 hours for me was I shrink wrapped and sealed each connection so It will never happen to me again. Even got help on a Sunday from DOC's.
Good luck and safe trails.. :chopper:
 

cdogg556

Guru
I'm with you on this one Tony, I also did all the shrink tubing on all the connectors so it took me some time but I didn't really want to rush it anyway, it's not that difficult to do but it is teedeus work that takes time to do right! It is well worth the effort though, all those little electrical gremlins will be forever gone!
 

BWG56

Guru
I'm with you on this one Tony, I also did all the shrink tubing on all the connectors so it took me some time but I didn't really want to rush it anyway, it's not that difficult to do but it is teedeus work that takes time to do right! It is well worth the effort though, all those little electrical gremlins will be forever gone!
Well cheese head:oldlaugh: if you add the time to drain the tank and then clean the petcock and check all the other connectors and add dielectric grease that weren't part of the harness, you might want to add a little bit of time:oldhardlaugh::hi::oldlaugh:
 

BWG56

Guru
Great write up Ker! It took me a bit longer when I did it. I'm a rookie at fixing anything mechanical this was my first attempt. If I can do it myself with just a few helpful hints along the way from DOC, anyone can do it. I really have no skill here. The reason it too 13 hours for me was I shrink wrapped and sealed each connection so It will never happen to me again. Even got help on a Sunday from DOC's.
Good luck and safe trails.. :chopper:
Yeah me to, I should add a few more hours because I had to verify the speedo sensor was working and my speedo took a crap:oldbang::oldangry: :whoop::oldlaugh: Its never cut and dry
 

cdogg556

Guru
Well cheese head:oldlaugh: if you add the time to drain the tank and then clean the petcock and check all the other connectors and add dielectric grease that weren't part of the harness, you might want to add a little bit of time:oldhardlaugh::hi::oldlaugh:
Now your being realistic wanker! :old2: And as far as difficulty, a "4"! Come on now, :nonod: I'd at least say a 6 out a 10 would be about right, :yesnod:remember were not all electronic guru's around here wankerdoodle! Lol! :oldlaugh: :old2:
 

BWG56

Guru
Now your being realistic wanker! :old2: And as far as difficulty, a "4"! Come on now, :nonod: I'd at least say a 6 out a 10 would be about right, :yesnod:remember were not all electronic guru's around here wankerdoodle! Lol! :oldlaugh: :old2:
To be realistic it took me 2 weeks cause I put a starter or 2 in and a new clutch basket and starter ring, a new speedo and epoxied my bung, changed the primary fluid and the tranny fluid, with that said, really how long did it take you to swap out the wiring harness, if it took you longer than 5 hrs you were spankin ur monkey:boing::oldhardlaugh::oldhardlaugh:
 
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