Cold start M8 issue

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Dec 30, 2018 | 12:10 AM

#31

Oz Dan

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2017

Posts: 494

Likes: 220

From: Qld, Australia

I didn’t know the bike was stock. OP doesn’t say.......

Dec 31, 2018 | 09:44 AM

#32

moose545

Road Captain

Joined: Aug 2017

Posts: 647

Likes: 47

From: Loudoun, VA

An hour isn't the end of the world, if it can be ridden, I'd find a new dealer screw that. I just bought a Heritage Softail 18' used from my dealer. On pickup it was supposed to be washed, and wasn't. I reported it as such on my review, and when the sky started falling and everyone started to contact me about the why, i told them it was filthy and BS on the customer service side of things. Supposedly I have 5 details with them now come spring, so we'll see how that goes. In the end they pissed me off, and the finance guy smerks at me now with the GM when I had to get parts. I'd give them another chance at redemption, yet I wouldn't buy another bike there cause of the disconnect. Oh and I found a gouge in the primary case and derby cover down low, that they should've disclosed and saw, and me too. Live and learn~

Jan 5, 2019 | 03:34 PM

#33

smitty901

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 23,000

Likes: 11,441

I know mine well and use it a lot in cold by cold I mean temps in the 15-30 degrees . It it does not start right away, if it fires a bit but fails to start I stop right there. Shut it off roll throttle all the way open ,turn it on holding the throttle hit starter and it starts. But be ready to roll off right away. Because I ride in cold and will spend over nights away some times I have ordered a Micro-Start PPSXP10. I wanted the higher rated one. It will start a car. Ordered it from dealer was lower cost than amazon and no shipping.
The dealer goes out a lot to pick up bikes for many reasons , often they have been sitting in a cold garage not on a tender. They carry one with them just for that reason. So am I .

Last edited by smitty901; Jan 5, 2019 at 03:52 PM.

Jan 13, 2019 | 07:54 AM

#34

Uberjason

Cruiser

Joined: Aug 2014

Posts: 169

Likes: 30

From: Gulf Harbors/Woodlands, FL

It sounds to me like the bike is either not getting spark at start, the bike is starved for fuel, or depending on what is cranking, maybe a bad starter motor/jack shaft. OP states it's a new RK. 40ish degrees Fahrenheit and cranks over. So I have a couple of questions for the OP.

How long do you hold the starter button and does the engine crank?
How many times do you have to "re-try" to get it to crank?
Is the engine actually cranking or is it the starter motor/jack shaft cranking?

Jan 16, 2019 | 04:40 PM

#35

Bad B5.9

Advanced

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 92

Likes: 7

From: West Virginia

I have a 2018 Ultra Limited. S&S 2 into 1 and Harley air cleaner. Stage 1 tune with Harley tuner. Randomly in the mid 30's it does not want to start. I cranks like normal, and sometimes it will backfire through the intake. That makes me believe it is lean on the cold start table. Below 30 and down into the mid teens the bike starts fine. Above about 38 no issues ever. Like above, I can ride to work at 20 degrees, it sits all day, if it warms up in the mid 30's it may or may not have trouble starting. It always starts eventually though. I thought about modifying the cold start fuel table, but have not tried it yet. It's had 3 or tanks of fuel trough it this fall/winter, so I don't think it is fuel related. I wonder if the intake temperature sensor could be the culprit? One last thing, it seems to me like the bike did not do this earlier this fall. It just started about 3 or 4 weeks ago, but I am not 100% sure.

Jan 16, 2019 | 05:00 PM

#36

Bowhunter8607

Road Warrior

Joined: Feb 2014

Posts: 1,851

Likes: 420

From: Santa Fe NM

Mine stays outside under a car port. Have had it fire but not stay on while temps are in the teens but the one time it did this it did it once then on the second attempt it fired up and stayed running. Have been riding the last month or so in temps from 15* F through low 40's on a warm day and have not had any issues with the bike starting other than the one time. It cranks slower than normal but fires up with only a few cranks of the starter. I have been putting it on a tender when I have to go a few days without riding due to snow and ice.

Jan 16, 2019 | 10:18 PM

#37

FLTRI17

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 2,114

Likes: 666

If it doesn’t start right up try shutting off the ignition then back on and try starting again. It usually doesn’t help to just crank and crank....and crank. Cycling the ignition (off/on) if it doesn’t start right up will give you a better ”shot” of it starting ;-)
Bob

Dec 29, 2023 | 08:04 AM

#38

Crow Magnum

2nd Gear

Joined: Dec 2023

Posts: 6

Likes: 4

From: Florida

No start

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron@creativesewingshops.com

The dealer said anytime I am not riding it needs to be tendered. I have it on that unless I'm at work. They tested the battery and charging system. Sometimes I am plugged in the tender and it still does not start. It cranks like crazy, no battery issue.

frankly u need to go someplace else. All Harley Davidsons will start in the cold with good battery.