This season I've really noticed that my bike starts really hard sometimes. Really hard meaning it'll turn over one time (or sounds like 1/2) really loudly and then almost stop....slowly turn again and start. 2009, 15k miles. Would that be the battery? Doesn't seem like it...but maybe.

Usually notice it on cold starts.

Having some radio issues to and some guys thought that could be a battery issue (it not always playing sound when started).


thanks guys...

 

Is it when hot or cold or both? I don't think I can answer but might want to update original post to include that info cause someone with more knowledge than mine might need that info to properly diagnose issues?
Kris

 

- Have your battery load tested at a bike shop. Some HD batteries last years (mines 6 yrs old) and some go bad in a couple of years.
- If its still good, check the battery cables, you might want to back the bolts out & retighten to insure a good connection.
- Check your starter bolts for tightness.

 

I'm gonna do a how to start your bike thread

watch for it.

Mike

 

Sounds like your battery. I have a 2009 EGC and my battery only lasted a little over a year. It did the same thing. Got a new battery and problem solved.

 

+1, sounds like battery/electrical.

 

Before you change your battery check your air filter I had a case where my air filter was dirty and it affected my starting, especially if you notice your gas mileage not being as good as it used to be.

Mark

 

something else that's happened a couple of times is a loud pop coming from the air filter (heavy breather) at start up.....

 

are you giving it any gas when you start it, or just pushing the starter?

 

Mine does the exact same thing (2009 Ultra). There is another post about how to start your bike that talks about the battery and charging system (https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...your-bike.html)

Here is a part of that post that makes sense to me...

when starting your bike; understand that when you last turned it off, you turned off the spark ( and EFI).
The motor kept turning until the compression in the cylinder was more that the flywheel could over come.
- this means that a motor ALWAYS stops on a compression stroke.
which is the hardest place to try starting it ( and why some models have compression releases).

a good practice is to "flick" the starter button- this will either push the piston over top-dead-center or cause it to "rebound" back down the bore ( reverse).

in either case when the start is next applied, the motor can build a little rotational speed before the next compression stroke.