Cold Start Problem softail heritage classic
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Northampton
Around 40 degrees my bike started to crank sluggish. A battery with better CCA helped. Keep in mind that your bike has to turn over that 20/50 motor oil and that crap is like syrup when it gets colder out. Your manual tells you when you should change the grade of oil to help reduce cold start issues. I got some 10/40 but I still haven't used it yet.
I run Royal purple 20/50 and with the better battery, I haven't had an issue with it cranking over. Also, I NEVER use a tender. I start it and I run it at least 3 times per week. When the roads stay icy and snow covered, I start it and ride it anyway. Let it warm up until it idles down to 1,000 rpm, put 15 miles on it and you'll burn the condensation out of the oil.
You will find that the oil you run has a lot to do with how it cold starts. Also, I start mine in neutral. I doubt the clutch/primary drag accounts for much on cold starts but it seems to help a little.
This is a very opinionated topic and this just happens to be my opinion.
I run Royal purple 20/50 and with the better battery, I haven't had an issue with it cranking over. Also, I NEVER use a tender. I start it and I run it at least 3 times per week. When the roads stay icy and snow covered, I start it and ride it anyway. Let it warm up until it idles down to 1,000 rpm, put 15 miles on it and you'll burn the condensation out of the oil.
You will find that the oil you run has a lot to do with how it cold starts. Also, I start mine in neutral. I doubt the clutch/primary drag accounts for much on cold starts but it seems to help a little.
This is a very opinionated topic and this just happens to be my opinion.
Thanks guys...It was around 40 degrees this morning...sluggish start but it started.. took it to the Harley dealer this morning they checked the battery with meter, they said battery is good. I bought some fuel stabilizer to see if that helps. So you guys think I should replace the battery anyway?
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 863
Likes: 2
From: spain and uk
Thanks guys...It was around 40 degrees this morning...sluggish start but it started.. took it to the Harley dealer this morning they checked the battery with meter, they said battery is good. I bought some fuel stabilizer to see if that helps. So you guys think I should replace the battery anyway?
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 12
From: Haymarket, VA
It accounts for a LOT if your clutch is not adjusted properly, even if it is it still will drag a little in colder weather.
There are a lot of dynamics involved in starting a bike. The ECM should have an enrichment setting along with a AFR temperature correction. You did not say whether you had a stock setup or if it is something other than stock.
I have a TMAX in my bike. I had it dyno tuned, but the tuner never looked at cold startup. No way he could, it was summer. About 6 months later, I noticed it did not do well on cold starts. I had to adjust the AFR temperature correction. Even now, when it is that cold I have to give it a little throttle during startup. No throttle required when it is warmer.
You are not trying to start it with the tender hooked up are you?
I have a TMAX in my bike. I had it dyno tuned, but the tuner never looked at cold startup. No way he could, it was summer. About 6 months later, I noticed it did not do well on cold starts. I had to adjust the AFR temperature correction. Even now, when it is that cold I have to give it a little throttle during startup. No throttle required when it is warmer.
You are not trying to start it with the tender hooked up are you?
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
There are a lot of dynamics involved in starting a bike. The ECM should have an enrichment setting along with a AFR temperature correction. You did not say whether you had a stock setup or if it is something other than stock.
I have a TMAX in my bike. I had it dyno tuned, but the tuner never looked at cold startup. No way he could, it was summer. About 6 months later, I noticed it did not do well on cold starts. I had to adjust the AFR temperature correction. Even now, when it is that cold I have to give it a little throttle during startup. No throttle required when it is warmer.
You are not trying to start it with the tender hooked up are you?
I have a TMAX in my bike. I had it dyno tuned, but the tuner never looked at cold startup. No way he could, it was summer. About 6 months later, I noticed it did not do well on cold starts. I had to adjust the AFR temperature correction. Even now, when it is that cold I have to give it a little throttle during startup. No throttle required when it is warmer.
You are not trying to start it with the tender hooked up are you?
Didn't think about that..didnt think that mattered. I also was told try to get a heater for my garage....
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Thought I remember reading somewhere several yrs back that a tender doesn't fully charge a battery, it only maintains it around 80%.???.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 43
Likes: 12
From: Saint Louis
2014 Heritage Hard to Start when Cold
First, Happy Holidays to all on HD Forums.
Seems like a common theme on this thread. My 2014 Heritage with ~21,600 miles is hard to start when the bike is cold and has sat for ~ a day. No "clicking", just a draw down of the battery. If I let the bike sit for several minutes, it will eventually start. The rest of the day it starts fine. New batteries do not seem to help. I now have a new H-D Lithium battery that indicates fully charged (all three blue dots lit) and still performs the same as the lead acid batteries. I let the lithium battery "warm up" for a minute or two.
Thank you for your time
Seems like a common theme on this thread. My 2014 Heritage with ~21,600 miles is hard to start when the bike is cold and has sat for ~ a day. No "clicking", just a draw down of the battery. If I let the bike sit for several minutes, it will eventually start. The rest of the day it starts fine. New batteries do not seem to help. I now have a new H-D Lithium battery that indicates fully charged (all three blue dots lit) and still performs the same as the lead acid batteries. I let the lithium battery "warm up" for a minute or two.
Thank you for your time
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post