View Poll Results: bike wont start when engine hot

engine hot wont start

50.00%

starts when cold

100.00%

Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 2. You may not vote on this poll

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Feb 10, 2025 | 08:33 PM

#21

Rounders

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2021

Posts: 18,252

Likes: 3,679

From: backwoods

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC

How old is the battery?

Never assume a battery is good, or bad, test it.

Charge the battery and take it to an auto parts store, they will load test it for free.
forum.

In the time it takes to do all this couldn't pull the plugs and see if it turns over? it starts the engine cold. So if you think the battery does not half the capacity to start hot, would pulling the plugs be similar letting it cool down?

I have to wonder if an electrical component is getting hot and the start relay is not picking up. But that is just a guess from a million miles away. Also in the time you are removing and driving the battery around town you could put a jump pack on it, or charger cranked up. If does nothing all now when hot, and then clicks or cranks with an aid, I would then wonder about the battery or dirty connections.

I believe the clue to this, is it has no problem starting cold. But nothing happens when hot, until it cools down again.

Feb 11, 2025 | 01:58 AM

#22

Ian@6078

Thread Starter

4th Gear

Joined: Jul 2024

Posts: 8

Likes: 3

From: RSA

Thanks so much will try and clean the cables and small wire as you have suggested.

Feb 11, 2025 | 02:02 AM

#23

Ian@6078

Thread Starter

4th Gear

Joined: Jul 2024

Posts: 8

Likes: 3

From: RSA

Hi Jackie
Thanks for your input, it definitely clicks and tries to spin over but seems like not enough oomph, so will try clean cables etc,much appreciated.

Feb 11, 2025 | 06:26 AM

#24

Jackie Paper

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 38,528

Likes: 6,407

From: Honah Lee

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian@6078

Hi Jackie
Thanks for your input, it definitely clicks and tries to spin over but seems like not enough oomph, so will try clean cables etc,much appreciated.

Without a voltage/ohm meter, your options are pretty much dependent on a service center. Clean and tight may help but you need to know how much voltage is hitting the small wire on starter.

If that's good and a CCA and battery tested good, it may be starter.
It will need load tested for amp draw.

A crude battery test is cranking, it should not drop below 9.7 volts with meter attached to maintance charger connections. (That's a stock Harley)

My Harley does the same as the battery comes near the end of its life.

I only use maintenance charger occasionally when I rode regular.

Especially coming off it, and cold, all was good. Short 5 mile ride to the gym, maybe a stop for a few groceries, then fuel and by then, I got a grunt till it cleared the last fuel vapor left when you shut a FI bike down.

Ever four years or so, I got a new battery. I just got the cheap AGM at Walmart. Four years for a $100 or so.

I got five years out of the Harley branded one. The last year I put up with grunts and starter bangs from voltage dropping and solenoid electric magnet dropping the starter drive gear out.

When it does that, the tin men love to try to sell you compensators and starter sprag clutches.

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Feb 11, 2025 at 08:42 AM.

Feb 11, 2025 | 06:50 AM

#25

Dan89FLSTC

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 21,132

Likes: 12,693

From: South Carolina

You don`t know how old the battery is, and you have had the bike 3 years.

The battery is kaput.

Feb 11, 2025 | 07:11 AM

#26

NorthWestern

Club Member

Joined: Apr 2016

Posts: 11,542

Likes: 8,375

From: Inland NW

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC

You don`t know how old the battery is, and you have had the bike 3 years.

The battery is kaput.

This.
I am surprised this thread needs to continue, but given a couple of its participants...

Feb 11, 2025 | 07:11 AM

#27

702

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 5,814

Likes: 7,145

From: Las Vegas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC

As you can clearly read, there are some posters here who you should feel free to ignore, they are well known on this forum.

Just like this OP, if you ever want to get your bike running proper again. And Dan is right, get a new battery and be done with it.

Last edited by 702; Feb 11, 2025 at 07:13 AM.

Feb 11, 2025 | 07:26 AM

#28

Dan89FLSTC

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 21,132

Likes: 12,693

From: South Carolina

Now you guys did it...

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Feb 11, 2025 | 07:42 AM

#29

702

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 5,814

Likes: 7,145

From: Las Vegas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC

Now you guys did it...

Not at all. It's a sincere effort to show the new guy how to avoid bad advice. He may not know that this feature is available.

Feb 11, 2025 | 09:06 AM

#30

HD_noobie

Road Master

Joined: Nov 2019

Posts: 933

Likes: 677

From: Ohio

I had a Yamaha that did this exact same thing.
anywhere I rode I had to wait for it to cool down before it would start
It turned out to be the starter motor.

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