Starting 1990 FLHTC in cold weather?
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Joined: Oct 2020
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From: High Desert
Starting 1990 FLHTC in cold weather?
Hi, all! Not sure where else to ask this, so here goes!
I have 1990 FLHTC/Electraglide Custom. Been riding for decades, wrenching for just the last couple of years. I live in New Mexico, so cold weather usually isn't much of an issue. Never was when I was only riding afternoons and weekends. But I recently retired, so Lots more time to ride. 30+ degree swings are nothing for this part of the world, so while it might be 50+ by 1:00 PM, If i go out to start things up at 7:00-8:00AM, we might be in the low/mid 20's. Which leads us to my current problem.
When the weather is below about 45, this cold-blooded beast just doesn't like to start. Sometimes, I'll crank it again and again, getting fire, little sputs and sputters, even little put -put- putttt-paaa...over and over again until the battery runs down so far, I either put it on the charger, jump-the bike from the car, (I know...Not the best idea, but I wanna ride) or, just walk away until the weather warms up. It's a new battery, I have it on a battery tender whenever it's not running. I choke it, I prime it with a few twists of the throttle, but when it's cold, this carbureted beast just sometimes refuses to start.
Advice? (Other than buying a "Modern" bike with fuel injection?
Thanks in advance!
I have 1990 FLHTC/Electraglide Custom. Been riding for decades, wrenching for just the last couple of years. I live in New Mexico, so cold weather usually isn't much of an issue. Never was when I was only riding afternoons and weekends. But I recently retired, so Lots more time to ride. 30+ degree swings are nothing for this part of the world, so while it might be 50+ by 1:00 PM, If i go out to start things up at 7:00-8:00AM, we might be in the low/mid 20's. Which leads us to my current problem.
When the weather is below about 45, this cold-blooded beast just doesn't like to start. Sometimes, I'll crank it again and again, getting fire, little sputs and sputters, even little put -put- putttt-paaa...over and over again until the battery runs down so far, I either put it on the charger, jump-the bike from the car, (I know...Not the best idea, but I wanna ride) or, just walk away until the weather warms up. It's a new battery, I have it on a battery tender whenever it's not running. I choke it, I prime it with a few twists of the throttle, but when it's cold, this carbureted beast just sometimes refuses to start.
Advice? (Other than buying a "Modern" bike with fuel injection?
Thanks in advance!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3,182
Likes: 2,225
From: College Station, TX
What carb is on it? When it does finally start, do you have to leave the choke on until it fully warms up before it will idle on it's own? How is the hot idle? Does it idle fast or at a normal RPM? And does the engine respond when you accelerate hot?
Are there other running / accelerating issues? Is the throttle responsive? Does it miss fire, backfire etc?
What has been done to the bike to try to resolve this issue?
If it were mine, I check that the accelerator pump is spraying fuel when the throttle is twisted. And I'd check to see what spark plugs are in it and what condition they are in. If you are running non HD plugs, I get a new set of HD plugs for that bike and are the proper heat range. If they are very old, I'd just replace them.
It sounds like a carb problem, or essentially the engine not getting enough fuel. So if there hasn't been any work on the carb recenty, I'd likely pull the float bowl and check for debris of other foreign things (gummy build up form moisture in ethanol based fuels) in the bowl.
You could try using a little starting fluid to see if it responds to that as a way to help identify the problem. But be careful because starting fluid is very flamable. If it fires right up but then dies once the starting fluid is burned off, then that points to a carb problem.
Paul
Are there other running / accelerating issues? Is the throttle responsive? Does it miss fire, backfire etc?
What has been done to the bike to try to resolve this issue?
If it were mine, I check that the accelerator pump is spraying fuel when the throttle is twisted. And I'd check to see what spark plugs are in it and what condition they are in. If you are running non HD plugs, I get a new set of HD plugs for that bike and are the proper heat range. If they are very old, I'd just replace them.
It sounds like a carb problem, or essentially the engine not getting enough fuel. So if there hasn't been any work on the carb recenty, I'd likely pull the float bowl and check for debris of other foreign things (gummy build up form moisture in ethanol based fuels) in the bowl.
You could try using a little starting fluid to see if it responds to that as a way to help identify the problem. But be careful because starting fluid is very flamable. If it fires right up but then dies once the starting fluid is burned off, then that points to a carb problem.
Paul
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 311
Likes: 547
From: Warner Robins GA
I had the same problem on 99 sportie and it is the intake gaskets. Started fine in the heat of summer but when it got cooler it got worse. Diagnose by spraying carb cleaner where the intakes join the heads. Makes sense as when the cold sets in the parts shrink.
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