Difficult hot restarts?
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 265
Likes: 2
Difficult hot restarts?
Why is my bike more difficult to restart when it is still hot then after it sits for a while to cool off? When its cool (45 mins since run) I flick the starter quick once then hit it again and it fires righ up. When it's still hot I try the same method and it gives me fits. Today at the cemetery after visiting a grave for 10 minutes it took me 8 tries and sounded like my battery was going dead before it would fire up. I got all the typical sounds, clanking, exhaling thru the TB, etc. When I let it cool or don't ride it for a week I get no such problems. Is my battery about to crap out? I think is original 09 or 10. My battery tender shows it fully charged.
ETA: Yes, I am in Florida so heat is definetly an issue. As far as a more detail on the starting issue: yes it will occassionally kick back but more frequently it cranks over but slowly and wont fire up. I hate to keep holding the starter button. If it doesnt start right up I let go of the starter button, let the pump stop running and then rehit the starter. Some times it would start right up while other times it would crank slowly over, or kick back and exhale thru the TB. The motor is factory stock 103ci.
ETA: Yes, I am in Florida so heat is definetly an issue. As far as a more detail on the starting issue: yes it will occassionally kick back but more frequently it cranks over but slowly and wont fire up. I hate to keep holding the starter button. If it doesnt start right up I let go of the starter button, let the pump stop running and then rehit the starter. Some times it would start right up while other times it would crank slowly over, or kick back and exhale thru the TB. The motor is factory stock 103ci.
Last edited by 03psd; Sep 16, 2012 at 08:13 PM. Reason: Additional Info and clarification
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,595
Likes: 8
From: Vancouver Island British Colombia Canada
Here is a list of things that can make your bike act like that.
Weak starter, weak battery. Dirty ground wire in the starter circuit, Compression rising because fuel air mixture in the cylinders is expanding in the hot engine while it sits, Timing out slightly, cranking with the clutch engaged even though the bike is in neutral.
Start eliminating one possibility at a time until you have the issue narrowed down.
Hatch.
Weak starter, weak battery. Dirty ground wire in the starter circuit, Compression rising because fuel air mixture in the cylinders is expanding in the hot engine while it sits, Timing out slightly, cranking with the clutch engaged even though the bike is in neutral.
Start eliminating one possibility at a time until you have the issue narrowed down.
Hatch.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 2
From: Ontario East
My battery is the original one and I've never had a problem with it...new 2005.
My bike doesn't act quite that bad when hot however if I'm really into the throttle for a while then shut it off it's a bit tougher to get started.
Riding normally though I don't have any issues. I always push in my compression releases though,maybe in your case when the bike is hot
the rings have a tight seal instead of there being less resistance due to a less positive seal therefore turns over easier. Maybe?
I think hatchetmans explanations are more plausible. I think I just had verbal diarrhea 'cept I was typing.
Riding normally though I don't have any issues. I always push in my compression releases though,maybe in your case when the bike is hot
the rings have a tight seal instead of there being less resistance due to a less positive seal therefore turns over easier. Maybe?
I think hatchetmans explanations are more plausible. I think I just had verbal diarrhea 'cept I was typing.
I think hatchetmans got it with the fuel expanding in the cylinder idea. It raises the resistance(compression) and causes the more difficult start.
I've got manual compression releases on my heads. They make a huge difference,in my case anyway.
If you are mechanically inclined I'm sure you can remove and replace your heads and get them machined for the compression releases. The parts themselves are only 5 bucks each. The wear and tear they save my starter make the effort money well spent.
I've got manual compression releases on my heads. They make a huge difference,in my case anyway.
If you are mechanically inclined I'm sure you can remove and replace your heads and get them machined for the compression releases. The parts themselves are only 5 bucks each. The wear and tear they save my starter make the effort money well spent.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
dont have the problem of hard starts, but I have had her to backfire a couple times a yr..
others have said to use the Kill switch instead of the the ign switch... that cut the gas off on shut downs. Might try doing that to see if it helps.
I used to have several issues with idling.. some times a little high and at other times she'd be low...
the SERT, Dyno and cams pretty much took care of all that..
.
others have said to use the Kill switch instead of the the ign switch... that cut the gas off on shut downs. Might try doing that to see if it helps.
I used to have several issues with idling.. some times a little high and at other times she'd be low...
the SERT, Dyno and cams pretty much took care of all that..
.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Also, the number one killer of batteries is heat. I'm also guessing that months of endless 95+ degree days are something that's rather rare in northern Canada.
Based on the foliage in the background of the OP's sig pic, I'm assuming he's in the southern part of the lower 48.
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Why is my bike more difficult to restart when it is still hot then after it sits for a while to cool off? When its cool (45 mins since run) I flick the starter quick once then hit it again and it fires righ up. When it's still hot I try the same method and it gives me fits. Today at the cemetery after visiting a grave for 10 minutes it took me 8 tries and sounded like my battery was going dead before it would fire up. I got all the typical sounds, clanking, exhaling thru the TB, etc. When I let it cool or don't ride it for a week I get no such problems. Is my battery about to crap out? I think is original 09 or 10. My battery tender shows it fully charged.
When the hard start problem occurs, is the motor turning over normally or is "kicking back" against the starter?
Based on your sig pic, it looks like you live in the southern part of the US. Does this problem only happen in the hot summer months?
A battery tender doesn't tell you the condition of your battery, you need to have it load tested for available Cranking Amps. 2-3 years service life from the battery is pretty typical for a bike ridden regularly in the hotter southern climates.
Also, when you shut off the motor, one cylinder always stops on a compression stroke, leaving that cylinder under pressure. When you make a short stop like for fuel, your starter has to push against that piston that's under pressure. When the bike sits for an hour or more, the compression will bleed off past the rings, valves, etc.
Last edited by cHarley; Sep 16, 2012 at 08:18 AM.
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