Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Odd starting

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 12:44 PM
  #1  
EasTexUltra12's Avatar
EasTexUltra12
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 876
Likes: 4
From: Waskom, TX
Default Odd starting

Bike has started to act a little funny on startup. This happens when starting a cold engine. Turn the ignition on, wait for fuel pump to pressure up, pull clutch in, press the button. Bike will turn over once, stop for a beat, then spin up and start. It's never not started. I keep it on a Battery Tender religiously, charging system is charging fine. I have not taken the battery out and had it load tested. It's a 2012, so that battery is 3-4 years old.

Thanks

David
 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 01:18 PM
  #2  
SBates08's Avatar
SBates08
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
Default

It definitely sounds like a battery going bad. I'll ask the obvious...have you checked your cables for tightness?

2010 Limited with some stuff!!
 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 01:21 PM
  #3  
Ben221's Avatar
Ben221
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 242
From: Glen Mills, PA
Default

I don't wait for the fuel pump to get going and this is sometimes avoided for me. It's not neccessary to wait. That being said, I always use a tender and noticed this only after 2 years. These batteries just don't hold up well IMO.
 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 01:31 PM
  #4  
EasTexUltra12's Avatar
EasTexUltra12
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 876
Likes: 4
From: Waskom, TX
Default

Originally Posted by SBates08
It definitely sounds like a battery going bad. I'll ask the obvious...have you checked your cables for tightness?

2010 Limited with some stuff!!
Yeah, but I don't mind you asking. Thanks


Originally Posted by Ben221
I don't wait for the fuel pump to get going and this is sometimes avoided for me. It's not neccessary to wait. That being said, I always use a tender and noticed this only after 2 years. These batteries just don't hold up well IMO.
I'd been told that I should wait for the fuel pump. Thanks for the info. Hell, nothing lasts like it should anymore. No one cares about quality or longevity. We're a disposable society now.

David
 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 01:35 PM
  #5  
SBates08's Avatar
SBates08
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
Default

I very seldom wait on the fuel pump either. Especially on a hot start. I usually wait on a cold start but I don't think that it really matters.

2010 Limited with some stuff!!
 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 01:44 PM
  #6  
btsom's Avatar
btsom
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 2,858
From: Oklahoma
Default

Usually the symptoms you describe begin with hot starts. Yours is an unusual case. On touring machines the battery is right behind the rear jug with an exhaust pipe even closer as an additional "radiator" to provide heat to the battery. High heat is very hard on batteries. Considering the overall design of our bikes, I have no idea where else the battery could go.
 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 01:52 PM
  #7  
DHubbs's Avatar
DHubbs
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 9
From: Cherokee Co. Georgia
Default

Place a volt meter across the battery, watch for voltage drop while cranking, switch to amps, take notice of amperage draw. Compare to specs. You probably have either a connection problem or a battery on its way out. The original batteries commonly last 5 years or even more when cared for.
As far as waiting for the fuel system to build pressure before starting. I believe it states in the manual to wait until the check engine light goes out before cranking engine. This is usually a second or two after the fuel pump switch's off.
 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 02:11 PM
  #8  
2500hdon37s's Avatar
2500hdon37s
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 1,728
From: Mid-MO
Default

Honestly, if the bike is not going to sit for a few weeks don't even think about plugging in the battery tinder. Over charging kills batteries too, and most battery tinders just supply a constant charge to batteries so they often get over charged.

The point of a tinder is to charge the battery enough to keep up the voltage/ charge enough to start the bike after sitting for a long period of time due to the parasitic drain from security systems and keeping time on the clocks and such on these bikes.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 02:27 PM
  #9  
jmn1960's Avatar
jmn1960
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 892
Likes: 6
From: rio rancho n.m.
Default

mine was doing the same thing , it was the battery, held good voltage but would not pass the load test
 
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2014 | 02:29 PM
  #10  
jmn1960's Avatar
jmn1960
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 892
Likes: 6
From: rio rancho n.m.
Default

the stealer wants $195 for the batt 1yr warranty , i went to batteries plus $155 with tax 2yr warrenty
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:41 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE