No start in cold
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 193
Likes: 1
From: Indian Trail, NC
No start in cold
Hello everyone.
I may have answered this question myself, but wanted some input to.
I have an 07 fxdl, and my bike does not start unless i jump it. The engine turns over and eventually kills the battery pretty quick. I live in NC and it gets down around 40 deg lately and I'm wondering if putting 20w50 in my engine at this time of year (not synthetic) is the reason it wont crank. The owners manual reccomends two other kinds of oil for colder temperatures. Should I just swap it out, and forget about it? Or is there something else I should take a look at. Also, it did this last year in the fall/winter to. Thanks!
I may have answered this question myself, but wanted some input to.
I have an 07 fxdl, and my bike does not start unless i jump it. The engine turns over and eventually kills the battery pretty quick. I live in NC and it gets down around 40 deg lately and I'm wondering if putting 20w50 in my engine at this time of year (not synthetic) is the reason it wont crank. The owners manual reccomends two other kinds of oil for colder temperatures. Should I just swap it out, and forget about it? Or is there something else I should take a look at. Also, it did this last year in the fall/winter to. Thanks!
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 135
Likes: 6
From: Independence KY
http://ezinearticles.com/?My-Motorcy...-Now?&id=72380
Bike sitting outside? Battery ever charged with a trickle charger? Does the bike actually run until the battery dies after jump? If the bike cranks and runs normally during warmer weather (without maintenance) then it sounds like a battery issue to me (not holding charge as long during cold temps). If it were me, I'd get myself a multimeter (preferably digital) and monitor the re-charged battery before crank and after. Good luck.
Bike sitting outside? Battery ever charged with a trickle charger? Does the bike actually run until the battery dies after jump? If the bike cranks and runs normally during warmer weather (without maintenance) then it sounds like a battery issue to me (not holding charge as long during cold temps). If it were me, I'd get myself a multimeter (preferably digital) and monitor the re-charged battery before crank and after. Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 193
Likes: 1
From: Indian Trail, NC
It's kept in a garage, and a tender on it every night. I have no trouble starting it in spring/summer and rarely keep it on a tender in that time. The bike starts a little easier depending on how warm it is in the garage when I pull out the bike in the morning. I will check it with my meter when I get home today, as it has not been hooked up to the tender all weekend so that should give me a good idea.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
http://ezinearticles.com/?My-Motorcy...-Now?&id=72380
Bike sitting outside? Battery ever charged with a trickle charger? Does the bike actually run until the battery dies after jump? If the bike cranks and runs normally during warmer weather (without maintenance) then it sounds like a battery issue to me (not holding charge as long during cold temps). If it were me, I'd get myself a multimeter (preferably digital) and monitor the re-charged battery before crank and after. Good luck.
Bike sitting outside? Battery ever charged with a trickle charger? Does the bike actually run until the battery dies after jump? If the bike cranks and runs normally during warmer weather (without maintenance) then it sounds like a battery issue to me (not holding charge as long during cold temps). If it were me, I'd get myself a multimeter (preferably digital) and monitor the re-charged battery before crank and after. Good luck.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: NC
I also live in NC in the western part and I keep my bike in an enclosed trailer with a battery tender on it. It takes an extra bit to start when cold. I leave the tender on it till it idles. I usually have to give it an extra twist on the throttle before I turn it over. I have a carb and not EFI. Usually cranks on the 2nd time and holds idle.
Check you battery under a load to see if it is holding. Then check your connections and cables.
Check you battery under a load to see if it is holding. Then check your connections and cables.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 135
Likes: 6
From: Independence KY
Rather puzzling that this has happened only with cold temps (2 years in a row). The only other thing I can think of would be corrosion on the battery post(s), vapor lock or a gas additive for winter storage.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Out on Deranged
It sure doesn't sound like an oil issue anyway. I would look at the plugs first and wonder why it takes longer to kick over. it could be that your local gas bar is adding more alcohol this time of year and your bike doesn't like it!