So I know I have posted a few questions recently but I am finding more and more issues with my 2000 Fatboy I just picked up that I haven't come across before. I have been having issues with the bike starting, especially cold starts. The previous owner told me you have to adjust the idle along with the enrichers. So that brings up a couple questions I am not adjusting the idle enough which is causing it to not want to turn over, with what I am assuming is the SE203 cam and the 95 big bore is it possible to compression to high for the stock starter? Or is it the 20yr old starter is finally giving out and needs replaced? Any input would be much appreciated.

 

My first guess would be the battery. When a battery gets old my bike starts cranking slower and sometimes won't even turn over at all, but the battery is fully charged (no capacity left).
Had the bike been setting long before you got it?

 

Not 100% sure how long it had sat. The battery was my first guess so I took a multimeter to it and it came back with 12.5-12.6 with a negligible draw with the ignition switched on. If it’s reading the proper voltage could there still be an issue with it?

 

Could be a bad cell in the battery. Charge it then have it load tested.

 

Ive had them show good voltage but would drop to nothing with the starter hit. Thats what i call capacity.
generally if its a weak starter it will draw big amps and heatup fast. A weak battery will not supply that much amps just volts.
Have you tried a different known good battery yet?

 

Does putting in on charger on high make a difference, or after charging all night?

Though reading 12.6,not sure that is where I would start, or not. I get could read fine.

Curious what you are doing when starting, with all you talk about that. I just pull choke/enricher all the way out and hit start button. Sometimes will operate throttle a little if carbed, do no hold. Just crack a couple times. But really should have to unless parked for a long time.

On my carbed 01, I did turn up the idle a little. Just a screw if I remember right. No tach so not sure why speed.

How was the last owener starting the bike? Why would you have to adjust the idle if he was using the bike?

Not familar with 203, and if compression issues.

My 98" with 37g cam I finally put in 1.4? starter and never had a problem since. Maybe could have done starter clutch.

The question that is hard to answer on the internet, is it turning slow due to low voltage battery or conenction, is not firing, or just hard starting.

 

Has it ever started good for you? New purchase that never ran right?

 

You have 12.4 volts,
You hit starter (with the multimeter still connected), what's it drop too?
Then check voltage again, what's it read now?

 

I am kinda doubting, but could be wrong. I did have one battery fail at 7 years, wish I would have read it. Though we don't know age of battery.

Put it on 10 charger and try starting, try battery pack. Just put on trickle all night and try.

I am still wondering about all this idle business, think that needs clearing up.

 

Maybe the enricher (choke) doesn't work.