Cold Start Issues
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 7
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From: Norcal
Cold Start Issues
Hello HD friends
I have a 2000 Dyna with engine mods. My cold starts are a real pain. The colder the weather the harder it is. Here are some descriptions of the mods.
SS 100" kit 10.5 : 1 compression
Ported Polished heads by Dave Mackey with compression releases.
Mikuni carb and the choke is working fine
Fueling Cam and gear drive and Dynatec ignition. Timken case. The ignition curve is set to their recommendation and runs great after it starts.
Once she fires and is warm there is no issues in performance or restarts. I always use my compression releases as I will get kickback with hot starts without. Definitely kicks back once before a cold start. I tried a shot of starting fluid a time or 2 for experiment and it fires up. immediately.
The starter is stock and I have read that a high torque starter could help? What say you guys?
Let me know if I am missing some key info please.
I have a 2000 Dyna with engine mods. My cold starts are a real pain. The colder the weather the harder it is. Here are some descriptions of the mods.
SS 100" kit 10.5 : 1 compression
Ported Polished heads by Dave Mackey with compression releases.
Mikuni carb and the choke is working fine
Fueling Cam and gear drive and Dynatec ignition. Timken case. The ignition curve is set to their recommendation and runs great after it starts.
Once she fires and is warm there is no issues in performance or restarts. I always use my compression releases as I will get kickback with hot starts without. Definitely kicks back once before a cold start. I tried a shot of starting fluid a time or 2 for experiment and it fires up. immediately.
The starter is stock and I have read that a high torque starter could help? What say you guys?
Let me know if I am missing some key info please.
Last edited by small country; Jan 22, 2025 at 09:00 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,075
Likes: 11,096
From: San Diego, CA
Hello HD friends
I have a 2000 Dyna with engine mods. My cold starts are a real pain. The colder the weather the harder it is. Here are some descriptions of the mods.
SS 100" kit 10.5 : 1 compression
Ported Polished heads by Dave Mackey with compression releases.
Mikuni carb and the choke is working fine
Fueling Cam and gear drive and Dynatec ignition. Timken case. The ignition curve is set to their recommendation and runs great after it starts.
Once she fires and is warm there is no issues in performance or restarts. I always use my compression releases as I will get kickback with hot starts without. Definitely kicks back once before a cold start. I tried a shot of starting fluid a time or 2 for experiment and it fires up. immediately.
The starter is stock and I have read that a high torque starter could help? What say you guys?
Let me know if I am missing some key info please.
The fact that is starts right up with a shot of starting fluid suggests to me that your initial start-up fuel mixture is lean....
I have never run a Mikuni, so I don't know how it addresses enriching the fuel for cold starts, but that's where I would begin looking. Could be as simple as giving it a twist of throttle or two, before you attempt the first start.
You also don't say how cold the temps are when you are starting the bike. Make sure your oil weight is suitable for the cold temps you are riding in...
For example, a straight 50wt would suck at 30° temps..
If you are riding (starting) in low 40° and lower, might think about using a 10W40 weight oil..
Harley oil weight recommendations from 2016 Owner's Manual. Ignore their shameless plug for HD labelled oils any quality oil will do. Notice the recommended temp range for HD360 (dino oil) and temp range for Syn3 (synthetic oil) differences. Also note they consder a cold weather start below 50°..
NOTE: I see Max posted while I was typing. He understands bigger builds and the DynaTec ignition, certainly try his recommendations...
Last edited by hattitude; Jan 22, 2025 at 09:44 AM.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 7
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From: Norcal
more interesting info here also. So lately I have tried giving a couple twists on the throttle to see if it helps because it doesn't seem like a flooding issue. The last couple times it seemed like a couple twists did help. It smells like it's firing, never like gas.
As far as the ambient temp. goes, nighttime temps below 40 F. Which I am experiencing now. Cold starts at 65 F. and above are definitely easier.
As far as the ambient temp. goes, nighttime temps below 40 F. Which I am experiencing now. Cold starts at 65 F. and above are definitely easier.
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Norcal
compression release
Thank you guys for the tips!
Max Head flow's advice and everyone's sure helped.
This time I gave her a couple twists and only used one compression release on cold start and it fired right up! No kick back either. Pretty F***ing pumped about that! A good batt and quality cables would help I'm sure also and take some weight off.
Stay tuned for a front suspension tuning question on a different thread.
Max Head flow's advice and everyone's sure helped.
This time I gave her a couple twists and only used one compression release on cold start and it fired right up! No kick back either. Pretty F***ing pumped about that! A good batt and quality cables would help I'm sure also and take some weight off.
Stay tuned for a front suspension tuning question on a different thread.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 904
Likes: 644
From: west coast
I'm in Norcal too and my Dyna needs 2 to 4 throttle twists before starting if it is cold (4 if it is very cold) and it has been sitting, especially this time of year.
BTW if you still want to try a more powerful starter I have a Terry 2.0 kw for sale here for $125, they are about triple that new...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/multi...-773594-a.html
BTW if you still want to try a more powerful starter I have a Terry 2.0 kw for sale here for $125, they are about triple that new...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/multi...-773594-a.html
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 1,726
From: Dallas, Texas
07 Dyna - EFI to Mikuni HSR 42 conversion, Thunder Stand Alone Ignition, 105" 10.5:1 top end, SE255's, NO compression releases. Hard to cold start. NEW Hi Torque starter. PROBLEM SOLVED.
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