Diagnosing hard starting issue, question.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 841
Likes: 58
From: Yakima
There's a huge difference between the battery and the charging system on a motorcycle, and that in a car or truck. Apples and oranges
On a motorcycle the charging system doesn't work the same as on a car. It'll send current to the battery. But it doesn't fully charge it like a tender would do. And over time the battery gets weaker and weaker. In order for optimal performance and life of the battery, it needs to be fully charged.
And if you "refuse" to put it on a tender, be prepared to buy more battery's more often.
I use a battery tender religiously and have been going on 4 years with this battery.
On a motorcycle the charging system doesn't work the same as on a car. It'll send current to the battery. But it doesn't fully charge it like a tender would do. And over time the battery gets weaker and weaker. In order for optimal performance and life of the battery, it needs to be fully charged.
And if you "refuse" to put it on a tender, be prepared to buy more battery's more often.
I use a battery tender religiously and have been going on 4 years with this battery.
Last edited by Iarecobra; Dec 22, 2015 at 05:04 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,145
From: Directly above the center of the Earth
There's a huge difference between the battery and the charging system on a motorcycle, and that in a car or truck. Apples and oranges
On a motorcycle the charging system doesn't work the same as on a car. It'll send current to the battery. But it doesn't fully charge it like a tender would do. And over time the battery gets weaker and weaker. In order for optimal performance and life of the battery, it needs to be fully charged.
And if you "refuse" to put it on a tender, be prepared to buy more battery's more often.
I use a battery tender religiously and have been going on 4 years with this battery.
On a motorcycle the charging system doesn't work the same as on a car. It'll send current to the battery. But it doesn't fully charge it like a tender would do. And over time the battery gets weaker and weaker. In order for optimal performance and life of the battery, it needs to be fully charged.
And if you "refuse" to put it on a tender, be prepared to buy more battery's more often.
I use a battery tender religiously and have been going on 4 years with this battery.
My *actual* experience is the opposite of what you're telling the OP. I went four years *never* putting a battery tender on my bike and it started fine. Two years ago though, during the winter on a 25 degree F day, it did what the OP was talking about - wouldn't start because it was turning over too slowly.
I did the cables (expensive!) thing. No help.
I did the battery tender thing for a couple of days. No help.
New battery. No help and melted one of the terminals off the battery trying to start the bike (and yes, I charged it fully *before* putting it in the bike).
The only thing(s) left that I haven't tried, are a new starter relay and system relay (both relatively cheap), and/or the wiring from the starter switch is actually simply just wearing out and getting rusty or whatever and need to replace the whole wiring setup for the starter parts.
*OR*, I put a starter button on the solenoid and when the bike won't start on one of the cold, cold mornings/days/nights I have to ride, I lean over and press on that button and the starter turns like the bike was a day old off the assembly line and I'm on my way. I personally like this solution as it's far, far simpler a fix and far, far cheaper. It would also be a real PITA to have my bike torn apart for who-knows-how-long rewiring the thing when it's the *only* transportation I own (yeah, I know...something's bound to happen some day that I'll have to have it up on blocks for a while, but I've been able to go so far without having to do that and just making fixes that work readily and quickly and luckily they've all actually been relatively minor...except for having to replace the large output shaft seal. That I'm giving to a friend who has the tools to get past getting the primary off, which is far as all my tools will get me, heh).
I took my old battery, which btw turned out to still be good, in my riding mower. It *still* starts that mower and it's now a 6 year old battery and still going strong - without being on a tender.
To the OP - Get online and look for a starter button for the solenoid on your model bike. I don't think you can get one on softails with the horseshoe oil tank as it hides the solenoid, but hey, ya never know. That button will work *every* time. It's very similar to starting an old Chevy or Ford by crossing the two bolts on the starter solenoid with a screwdriver, just without the sparks.
Last edited by tar_snake; Dec 22, 2015 at 06:17 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 841
Likes: 58
From: Yakima
To each their own.
It's a commonly know fact that a led acid battery will discharge over time if not properly maintained.
And the effects will be greatly noticed in colder weather. That's why it's recommended to maintain a properly charged battery.
But again. To each their own.
It's a commonly know fact that a led acid battery will discharge over time if not properly maintained.
And the effects will be greatly noticed in colder weather. That's why it's recommended to maintain a properly charged battery.
But again. To each their own.
Last edited by Iarecobra; Dec 22, 2015 at 07:16 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 265
Likes: 14
From: Abilene TX
It's not that it's hard to do. I just can't see why a new(ish) bike can't go a week or two without being plugged in. If that's the case then it's amazing that all these guys that tour a lot aren't going broke buying batteries.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 525
Likes: 9
From: Brooklyn
You're just spewing the same old used and abused diatribe one sees on every bike forum. No cites to actually prove it's true.
My *actual* experience is the opposite of what you're telling the OP. I went four years *never* putting a battery tender on my bike and it started fine. Two years ago though, during the winter on a 25 degree F day, it did what the OP was talking about - wouldn't start because it was turning over too slowly.
I did the cables (expensive!) thing. No help.
I did the battery tender thing for a couple of days. No help.
New battery. No help and melted one of the terminals off the battery trying to start the bike (and yes, I charged it fully *before* putting it in the bike).
The only thing(s) left that I haven't tried, are a new starter relay and system relay (both relatively cheap), and/or the wiring from the starter switch is actually simply just wearing out and getting rusty or whatever and need to replace the whole wiring setup for the starter parts.
*OR*, I put a starter button on the solenoid and when the bike won't start on one of the cold, cold mornings/days/nights I have to ride, I lean over and press on that button and the starter turns like the bike was a day old off the assembly line and I'm on my way. I personally like this solution as it's far, far simpler a fix and far, far cheaper. It would also be a real PITA to have my bike torn apart for who-knows-how-long rewiring the thing when it's the *only* transportation I own (yeah, I know...something's bound to happen some day that I'll have to have it up on blocks for a while, but I've been able to go so far without having to do that and just making fixes that work readily and quickly and luckily they've all actually been relatively minor...except for having to replace the large output shaft seal. That I'm giving to a friend who has the tools to get past getting the primary off, which is far as all my tools will get me, heh).
I took my old battery, which btw turned out to still be good, in my riding mower. It *still* starts that mower and it's now a 6 year old battery and still going strong - without being on a tender.
To the OP - Get online and look for a starter button for the solenoid on your model bike. I don't think you can get one on softails with the horseshoe oil tank as it hides the solenoid, but hey, ya never know. That button will work *every* time. It's very similar to starting an old Chevy or Ford by crossing the two bolts on the starter solenoid with a screwdriver, just without the sparks.
My *actual* experience is the opposite of what you're telling the OP. I went four years *never* putting a battery tender on my bike and it started fine. Two years ago though, during the winter on a 25 degree F day, it did what the OP was talking about - wouldn't start because it was turning over too slowly.
I did the cables (expensive!) thing. No help.
I did the battery tender thing for a couple of days. No help.
New battery. No help and melted one of the terminals off the battery trying to start the bike (and yes, I charged it fully *before* putting it in the bike).
The only thing(s) left that I haven't tried, are a new starter relay and system relay (both relatively cheap), and/or the wiring from the starter switch is actually simply just wearing out and getting rusty or whatever and need to replace the whole wiring setup for the starter parts.
*OR*, I put a starter button on the solenoid and when the bike won't start on one of the cold, cold mornings/days/nights I have to ride, I lean over and press on that button and the starter turns like the bike was a day old off the assembly line and I'm on my way. I personally like this solution as it's far, far simpler a fix and far, far cheaper. It would also be a real PITA to have my bike torn apart for who-knows-how-long rewiring the thing when it's the *only* transportation I own (yeah, I know...something's bound to happen some day that I'll have to have it up on blocks for a while, but I've been able to go so far without having to do that and just making fixes that work readily and quickly and luckily they've all actually been relatively minor...except for having to replace the large output shaft seal. That I'm giving to a friend who has the tools to get past getting the primary off, which is far as all my tools will get me, heh).
I took my old battery, which btw turned out to still be good, in my riding mower. It *still* starts that mower and it's now a 6 year old battery and still going strong - without being on a tender.
To the OP - Get online and look for a starter button for the solenoid on your model bike. I don't think you can get one on softails with the horseshoe oil tank as it hides the solenoid, but hey, ya never know. That button will work *every* time. It's very similar to starting an old Chevy or Ford by crossing the two bolts on the starter solenoid with a screwdriver, just without the sparks.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 23
From: Connecticut
AFDyna wrote above:
"How often are you saying I need to put it on a tender? Weekly? Monthly? Because I refuse to do it every day unless it's not being ridden."
The answer is simple:
When the bike is parked in the garage, it should be "on the tender".
The only time it should be off the tender is when you're riding it or working on it.
Is it -really- that much trouble to hook it up when you're finished riding?
"How often are you saying I need to put it on a tender? Weekly? Monthly? Because I refuse to do it every day unless it's not being ridden."
The answer is simple:
When the bike is parked in the garage, it should be "on the tender".
The only time it should be off the tender is when you're riding it or working on it.
Is it -really- that much trouble to hook it up when you're finished riding?
