I went through a bit of an issue, noted in this forum. In the process, i noted a reading of my batt at 10.1 upon starting. The bike turns over as normal, pauses, then turns over slowly and fires. I wonder if this might be the issue.

Noted in the link is a possible explanation for such things in the batt getting tired.

(I would embed it but do not know how or if it’s possible—update it embeds automatically on post).

Thoughts?

 

Are you saying that when the motor pauses, the reading is 10.1 volts at the battery? If so I'd look elsewhere. If it's 10.1 when you switch the ignition on, its the battery.

 

If you watch the video, the tech guy says different. It is a load test he is replicating without a load meter.

Ignition on 12. And if you watch the video, this is what he does as well--normal read, ignition on read, start read. It's the load that's the issue of predicting a worn/tired batt. Note the difference between the two bikes as well--one with tired batt, one without tired batt.

Someone said in the original post I linked to that this also means it could be the starter getting tired.

 

Yeah I watched the video. So while cranking, the battery voltage does not drop below 10.1.

OK next step is to measure the voltage at the starter while cranking. You might think it should be the same but it wont.

 

Take the battery out and get it load tested at your nearest Auto Store, they do it for free. Then you will know if you have a good battery or not.

 

Yes, I think you are exactly right. I have to locate the dcv on that in the service manual.

 

Look, cranking voltage should not drop below 8.5, what have you done to the engine? Did you increase compression? Is there any compression release if you did? If the vatt voltage doesn't drop below 10.5 then likely the battery is good, is this a HD battery or AM battery? If AM did the brass spacers get used between the battery terminals and the cables to flush up the cables on the battery? If the cables aren't flush on the battery you cannot get full amperage.

 

Everything on the bike is stock with the exception of what's in my signature. The batt is a 5 year old Advance Auto brand. There are no "brass" spacers, but the regular....lead/nickel/etc. between the leads and the batt. Everything is as it should be in terms of connection--solid, clean.

 

At five years old your battery may be putting out the voltage but not the amperage, the amperage goes down as the plates get used up. Get your battery load tested and see how many Cold Cranking Amps it has. Probably due for a new battery.

 

It was the battery. I changed it out for a new one—a DEKA, and no more pause.