Hello everyone, new to the group and I just recently picked up my 1st “classic” shovelhead. It’s an 83 FLHT 80ci belt drive. I did not get the bike from the gentlemen that restored it and rebuilt the motor, so I know little in the terms of history on this bike. That being said it started 1st or 32nd crank at the dealer and tests drove just fine, ran and idled great.
Now that I have the bike at home & in my garage the weather has gone in the opposite direction we would like to see here in northern Illinois and is back in the 20’s, it’s been a real bitch to get started. So much so, it sounds like the compression is too hard for the starter to get it rolling and fired. Actual wore down a brand new battery in the process.

Couple of questions…
1-Could this be just a cold blooded issue based on the temperature difference between being stored in a dealer and now in a cold garage?

2-A friend who came over and witness how hard the starter had to work to turn it over, suggested I look into “compression Releases” to help my starter.

Not sure on what work the engine has had other then it was completely gone through during restoration, but it does Lope like if has cams, and starts hard like the compression is up there.

Any thoughts out there on this……

 

If you're used to newer stuff, they don't spin with the same "zip". Shovels turn over slower. Mine does, and always has. Learn the ritual and follow it religiously. It only turns over about 3-4 times in the Spring before it starts though. All Summer it turns over about once. Sounds like you need to dial it in.

 

maybe you need a stronger starter

 

One other thing...there should be little a rectangular spacer with two bolt holes in it between the flange on the bendix and where it bolts up on the back of the primary. If someone else has been in there, they may not have replaced it when they put it back together, and if it's not there, the starter tends to bind and work harder.

 

I would look into what weight oil it has since you did state it has gotten colder, I ran 60w in the Shovelhead I had, when it was cold I would have it inside in the front room, push it out to start it and made sure I didn't stay over an hour wherever I stopped which was usually a Bar, lol.
Also with my Shovelhead I kicked it over twice with the gas on and key off, turned the key gave it full throttle and kicked once, it would fire up every time.
The Bendix it had on it when I bought it got thrown over my shoulder, I put a new Mikuni on.

 

I agree. I own a 78 lowrider kick and electric start. Although the electric start has not worked I have had to kick it ever since I got it 2 years ago. Learn the ritual of the bike. I would do 1 twist of the wick with the key off and 2 kicks. Then turn the key on go full choke and another twist of the wick, 2 kicks and fired right up in cold weather. Ran royal purple gear oil In the tranny, worked great in cold weather. Also try going on shovelhead forum. Lots of great guys on there and they know there stuff about shovels.

Good Luck

 

I see you posted this twice - tell us more about the bike - carb/ign that is installed? choke working? timing right? start simple...

 

congrats and welcome to the forum...

 

I've never had a shovel that started easy in the cold.[had 5 of them,and worked on friends too] Most common oil is straight 50 wt. I was amazed when I had an '83 that fired up when it was just a little under 50 degrees.

 

Did you turn the gas on?