I comitted to myself that I wasn't putting the bike away this winter but I'm already running into a problem keeping that promise. It gets very cold here in Salt Lake City, UT... we are already down to low 30's on some mornings. Untill it gets above about 45 in the later morning, my bike just won't start. I have a garage, but it's not heated... any ideas?
Thanks in advance

 

Are you talking about your 1995 Heritage Nostalgia? (this is info I got from your profile).

Assuming carburation and manual choke, what sort of "trying" start-up symptoms do you have? Your battery new or original? How's it doing turning over? Cranking but no firing?

Need more info.

 

I feel your bike's pain. I have a tough time getting started when its below 40 too. J/K

Ditto on PoorBoys question, what "is" it doing?

 

Yep... 95 Heritage Nostalgia... carb and manual choke.

Battery is older battery (not sure if it's original... just bought it this year from a private seller) but it will try pretty hard for at first. It cranks but never fires... not even a single chug. I can get it to turn for about 20 seconds and then the battery doesn't have enough guts to even turn it for more than about 2-3 seconds at a time. It's also due for the 20,000 mile service. (about 500 miles overdue actualy)

 

I had the same problem on a 93 FLHS. Unheated garage. New battery, and I even put a battery tender on it every nite...but with 20-50 oil, it just wouldn't crank over if it was below 33-35.

 

Change the oil, and put in Mobil 1 20-50 for V-Twins or Amsoil, even Syn3. All of the synthetics will let the engine spin over a little easier, and get a new battery. If its only spinning for 20 or so seconds before it craps out the odds are its overdue for replacement.

 

My suggestion if you do not ride it every other day put a battery tnder on it. My 97 does the same thing and I'm in sunny South Carolina.

 

READ your owner manual it says to run diffrent oil for colder climates

 

Buy a battery tender and keep it plugged in year round, even in the hot weather when not riding it. Saves your battery. Saves you $ in the long run.

 

I'm not fully understanding your question.
That type of question is usually reserved for the Springtime....
How long has it been since you have started the bike??
If it is spinning but won't fire, it could be many things.
But if it has been sittingfor awhile, it may already be gummed up.....