help with cold start problem...
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
From: south bend in,
help with cold start problem...
09 flhtcu...
Hello all ....need help ....the last couple of weeks it's been very hard starting motor spins just fine but it takes like 45 secounds orso for to catch and actually start it's a 09 flhtcu been about 25 or 30 degrees out ...also and the neutral light is very dim & sometimes non existent after it's been running a while then it starts glowing but not the normal brightness.... its cold the rest of the day but starts right up...when i need to leave work.. I have cleaning the battery connections at the battery 12.9 volts.. clean the plugs cleaning the main fuse and we're plugs into the fuse block if I bypass the neutral switch the jumper it it'sthe same as if it was plugged in to the neutral switch no change by jumping it,,, the light is not existent or very dim I don't know if these 2 things related got 37k miles on it.....it's in the cold barn or outside sometimes,,, until this time it's been rock solid starts right off any ideas sure could use the help I do have a stage1 & a dodecks tfi, thanks all...
Hello all ....need help ....the last couple of weeks it's been very hard starting motor spins just fine but it takes like 45 secounds orso for to catch and actually start it's a 09 flhtcu been about 25 or 30 degrees out ...also and the neutral light is very dim & sometimes non existent after it's been running a while then it starts glowing but not the normal brightness.... its cold the rest of the day but starts right up...when i need to leave work.. I have cleaning the battery connections at the battery 12.9 volts.. clean the plugs cleaning the main fuse and we're plugs into the fuse block if I bypass the neutral switch the jumper it it'sthe same as if it was plugged in to the neutral switch no change by jumping it,,, the light is not existent or very dim I don't know if these 2 things related got 37k miles on it.....it's in the cold barn or outside sometimes,,, until this time it's been rock solid starts right off any ideas sure could use the help I do have a stage1 & a dodecks tfi, thanks all...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 6
From: Michigan
Perhaps your battery is getting weak, with the cold motor it's taking a drain, once it starts, even if it cools down some, it may have a chance to get a charge and still be warmer than it was on the initial start. Get it load tested.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 6
From: Michigan
On my old bike the light would be dim and or not work, I'd just clean the wire connector on the neutral switch, found the problem by just moving it back and forth and the light got brighter. Of course that was on an evo, not sure if it's done the same way now. My battery would crank ok for a bit when it was going bad, but if it didn't start in the first 3 tries, it would drop dead instantly.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 89,185
From: Western South Dakota
4 year old bike, time for a new battery I would say.
Mine was doing the same thing last year, starts were weaker.
I replaced it, no issues.
http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Cra...L-Battery.html
$100 bux shipped to your door.
It's worth that much not to be broke down somewhere, isn't it?
Use a tender too, that helps.
Mine was doing the same thing last year, starts were weaker.
I replaced it, no issues.
http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Cra...L-Battery.html
$100 bux shipped to your door.
It's worth that much not to be broke down somewhere, isn't it?
Use a tender too, that helps.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,488
Likes: 30
From: Maryland near DC
the neutral light may just be dim because its so cold out leds can be touchy in the cold....you said the starter turns the motor over for 45 seconds?? that doesn't sound like a weak battery (but it won't hurt to have it load tested)....maybe you got some cheap gas in it, that can make it hard to start when its real cold....also it would not hurt to have a compression test ...if the compression is down, it will take a bit for the oil to get on the rings to help seal and raise it up so it will have enough compression to start..does it use oil???....the only other thing I can think of is if there is something wrong with the enrichener settings....
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 223
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From: Albuquerque, NM
I use a battery tender, especially in winter months, it really makes a difference. If you ride it everyday though, then it should not really be an issue, unless you are just driving short distances.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
From: south bend in,
will a went home from work pull the battery out and headed load tested it was good try different spark plugs no luck still didn't start the neutral light is still very dim or not on,,,I put the timing light on the wires there was a little spark in the rear no spark to the front * plug so I left it on the trickle charger overnight it was just going to call the dealership and have him pick it up in the morning I went out this morning and after several of revllusions it started it was snowingI said to save the trailering cost from the dealer I rode it there this morning and will see what they find I could try different things including the sensors but they have the actual technical tools to find the problem so I'll report back and see what they saywell it didn't use any oil and it's been rock solid for 4 years always starting the winner cold really never bothered it as long as the roads were clear I rode to work...
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
From: south bend in,
In the morning it started ..itwas snowing but not bad rode to dealer they called me up later said battery good , charging system good ..starts rite up ..cable ends good etc,,,.I explained to s.m of how it started slower for the last few days then one day no start....has tobe stone cold ..once started the rest of the day no problem..I said itwould be ok by me to sit it outside overnite .. he said there insc dont allow it so I said put in coldest part of building ... the non glowing neutral lite or dim saidthey would look atthat ..after I asked .. I hope it dont start so they dont think im crazy...I checked every thing I knew to do ...plugs were wet when it would turn over but no spark ...its been rock solid for 4 years ...well except the front wheel bearings...ill keep posted..