Have you ever push started an Ultra?
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 886
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Have you ever push started an Ultra?
Funny thing happened last weekend, I stopped at a gas station in the morning before a long planned ride, and it wouldn't start. I went through making sure I was in neutral, turned the switches off and on a number of times, pulled the clutch in and finally rocked the bike back and forth a few times in gear and it started.
Odd I thought,and for the rest of the day it started every time, until I got to the inlaw's house. Nothing, tried everything I did before and still nothing. The Ultra is still under warranty so I have the dealer pick it up on Monday, and I am hoping to have it back by the end of the weekend, as I am leading a ride for the chapter to the Skyline Drive. If it wasn't under warranty I'd fix it myself, a starter relay or a bad solenoid.
Anyway, I've push started bikes in my past, but have never thought about push starting a bike the size of an Ultra.........until this last weekend.
The question being, has anyone done this, either push started or has done a rolling start down a hill? If so, give us some details.
Odd I thought,and for the rest of the day it started every time, until I got to the inlaw's house. Nothing, tried everything I did before and still nothing. The Ultra is still under warranty so I have the dealer pick it up on Monday, and I am hoping to have it back by the end of the weekend, as I am leading a ride for the chapter to the Skyline Drive. If it wasn't under warranty I'd fix it myself, a starter relay or a bad solenoid.
Anyway, I've push started bikes in my past, but have never thought about push starting a bike the size of an Ultra.........until this last weekend.
The question being, has anyone done this, either push started or has done a rolling start down a hill? If so, give us some details.
Last edited by Hog Yild; Oct 14, 2008 at 10:25 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
It can be push started. Must get up a good amount of speed, down a hill ect, be in second gear. I had the starter go out on my flhtc in Daytona during bike week a couple of years ago, only had 2000 miles on it. Took 3 people pushing and a moderate hill to get enough speed. But it did start. Road it too Dealer and they put a new starter on. Have 20,000 on it now and knock on wood no more problems. Good luck!!
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Virginia
But maybe it does. I know the clutch or neutral safety switch is required for the starter to crank.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,282
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From: Broadview Heights, OH
If you've got power and it primes the injectors, I don't see why push-starting wouldn't work. If, however, you get nothing when you turn the key, then I don't see how it could start.
"Seeker of Freedom"
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,093
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From: Kansas City Area
I beleive the issue is the lack of continuous power for the EFI controller to make it work while push starting. It would be more likely to work if it wasn't a battery issue, but rather a starter issue.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
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The fuel injected part comes in to play when the battery is dead. Pump has to prime the injectors and you have to have power to the ecm for them to fire. If you have battery power and the fuel pump is cycling, I suppose you could get it to crank given enough of a hill/help pushing like old rider said. Not quite as easy as a carb model (although I wouldn't want to have to push start one of those heavy b!tches either way).
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 886
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
I can here the fuel pump starting, the engine "wait to start" light comes on, than goes off.
All looks normal, I press the start button and then just a click down by the start solenoid.
Everthing seems good but no starter.
All looks normal, I press the start button and then just a click down by the start solenoid.
Everthing seems good but no starter.
