No start in cold
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No start in cold
Twice this fall, I’ve headed out to ride to work in the morning when it’s in the 30’s and it wouldn’t start. Seemed as if the battery was just not giving it enough juice. Voltmeter showed 12.5 or thereabouts. I had had it on a trickle charger the night before. I was able to start the bike later in the day with the temps around 50.
Battery is 2 years old Yuasa.
I’m guessing this is just a battery going south. Anything else it might be?
Battery is 2 years old Yuasa.
I’m guessing this is just a battery going south. Anything else it might be?
2003 R1150R
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
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Re: No start in cold
Does the starter sound slow ???
'02 R1150R, Atlanta Blue
Been riding since 1979, BMW's since 1981 .
4 R65's, '87 Guzzi V65 Lario .
Been riding since 1979, BMW's since 1981 .
4 R65's, '87 Guzzi V65 Lario .
Re: No start in cold
Well, yes. I wasn’t sure if it was the starter or the battery. I started it this afternoon when it’s been fairly warm and it started but not like it was really snappy. And the trickle charger started charging again.
2003 R1150R
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
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Re: No start in cold
Is the battery a sealed type, or cam you service it with distilled water ?
'02 R1150R, Atlanta Blue
Been riding since 1979, BMW's since 1981 .
4 R65's, '87 Guzzi V65 Lario .
Been riding since 1979, BMW's since 1981 .
4 R65's, '87 Guzzi V65 Lario .
Re: No start in cold
I guess I could service it because I had to add the acid when I got it.
2003 R1150R
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
Re: No start in cold
That'd be a good thing to check, and test each cell with a battery hydrometer while you can get to it.I guess I could service it because I had to add the acid when I got it.
Also, what weight oil is in it?
Rich
ADIOS!
ADIOS!
Re: No start in cold
I have 20w/50 in it.
2003 R1150R
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
Re: No start in cold
20W-50 oil gets pretty thick at 30 degrees making it hard to crank. 10W-40 will let it crank faster and is fine for winter riding up to 68 degrees.
Rich
ADIOS!
ADIOS!
Re: No start in cold
Looked up the battery. Says it is maintenance free with no need to ever add water. So I guess skip that step. Amazon has odyssey for sale at $86 now. Not sure if this is battery, starter, or thick oil. I would hope that I could start it in the 30's
2003 R1150R
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
Re: No start in cold
Got a little electric heater that you can use to 'warm' the engine? Might be able to eliminate the 'thick oil' idea at least and cut out at least one of the variables.
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Re: No start in cold
Synthetic oil and a lower first number, 15 or 10 rather than 20 makes a big difference in cold weather.
My Truck that sits allot and gets driven in the worst conditions of Winter has 5-30 Synth oil, starts every time.
I even run the same oil in my snow blower.
A spray of starting fluid can help get them to fire too.
This from a guy that lives on the Frozen Tundra of the upper Midwest.
My Truck that sits allot and gets driven in the worst conditions of Winter has 5-30 Synth oil, starts every time.
I even run the same oil in my snow blower.
A spray of starting fluid can help get them to fire too.
This from a guy that lives on the Frozen Tundra of the upper Midwest.
1974 Kawi H-1 500
1975 Norton 850
2002 BMW R1150R
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1975 Norton 850
2002 BMW R1150R
2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250
2013 BMW GS 650 Sertao
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Re: No start in cold
racurley,
You have a 2003 model, meaning the electric starter went through 15 summers and 14 winters. Without any disassembly for cleaning/checking/lubing it can now generate less cranking power while at the same time drawing a lot more Amps starting current from what is likely a really good battery. A good change immediately, until the starter can be serviced by you would be to switch NOW to 5W-50 full synthetic engine oil. The best brand (Mobil-1) at a great price would be at Wally: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-5W-5 ... /197881001. Yes, it is $60 for 6 quarts, but being about a $40 oil change for confident cold weather starts -and- better engine protection ALL year round, you have a winner.
You have a 2003 model, meaning the electric starter went through 15 summers and 14 winters. Without any disassembly for cleaning/checking/lubing it can now generate less cranking power while at the same time drawing a lot more Amps starting current from what is likely a really good battery. A good change immediately, until the starter can be serviced by you would be to switch NOW to 5W-50 full synthetic engine oil. The best brand (Mobil-1) at a great price would be at Wally: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-5W-5 ... /197881001. Yes, it is $60 for 6 quarts, but being about a $40 oil change for confident cold weather starts -and- better engine protection ALL year round, you have a winner.
`09 F800ST
Member since Sept 10, 2001
"Talent, On Loan, From God" --Rush Limbaugh--
Member since Sept 10, 2001
"Talent, On Loan, From God" --Rush Limbaugh--
Re: No start in cold
Cool. You are saying the 5w-50 is good year round?
I've looked d at some videos of people cleaning their starters. Is there any instructions somewhere you think are better than others? Doesn't look too bad.
I've looked d at some videos of people cleaning their starters. Is there any instructions somewhere you think are better than others? Doesn't look too bad.
2003 R1150R
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
Re: No start in cold
My question would be..what is your starting technique? Do you just use the start leaver in the first position, or do you move the throttle manually...at all? Does it turn over at all or just slowly. If it turns over does it fire at all?
Just curious.
Just curious.
mike Mojave CA
'04 ROCKSTER
'04 ROCKSTER
Re: No start in cold
I put the fast throttle (choke) on and hit the start button. It turns over but sluggishly. It's quite warm here today and started ok. But, there's a slight hesitation at first. Just doesn't seem strong. When it has been colder, upper 30's, it turns over but much slower and won't actually start. Tonight, I watched the voltmeter when I started it. It was at 12.6 and then dropped to 8.75 when it was starting.
2003 R1150R
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
Re: No start in cold
OK thanx.
Mine has always turned over slow in 30 deg or lower cold soaked (w/ a lead acid battery) but will start as long as it will turn over even slow. If you use ANY throttle on a cold engine (other than the start lever), 90% chance you will flood it. If it does your done for a while!
Does sound like you have batt issues or at least connections. As long (my experience) as the starter works normal when warm it should be ok when cold, but high cycles on a starter is a good point of concern.
Mine has always turned over slow in 30 deg or lower cold soaked (w/ a lead acid battery) but will start as long as it will turn over even slow. If you use ANY throttle on a cold engine (other than the start lever), 90% chance you will flood it. If it does your done for a while!
Does sound like you have batt issues or at least connections. As long (my experience) as the starter works normal when warm it should be ok when cold, but high cycles on a starter is a good point of concern.
Last edited by kirby on Tue Dec 04, 2018 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
mike Mojave CA
'04 ROCKSTER
'04 ROCKSTER
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Re: No start in cold
Where on Amazon did you see the PC680 for $86? I see it for $122 (which still isn't all that bad). Oh and 10/40 will make a huge difference in ease of starting.racurley wrote:Looked up the battery. Says it is maintenance free with no need to ever add water. So I guess skip that step. Amazon has odyssey for sale at $86 now. Not sure if this is battery, starter, or thick oil. I would hope that I could start it in the 30's
The Older I Get, The Less I know. (in honor of MikeCam
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Re: No start in cold
That's too much voltage-drop while cranking; generally less than 9.75 volts indicates an electrical problem.I watched the voltmeter when I started it. It was at 12.6 and then dropped to 8.75 when it was starting.
Where were the voltmeter's leads connected, to the battery posts or somewhere else?
The answer will help diagnose the problem: if they were connected to the battery posts, that eliminates a poor connection, which is a common problem, but suggests either a weak battery or a starter going bad.
Rich
ADIOS!
ADIOS!
Re: No start in cold
Towerworker, the price seems to have gone back up. I canceled my order too because I wasn't sure it was the battery.
The voltmeter is connected to a terminal junction thing I installed so I didn't have to keep removing the tank.
I pulled the starter this evening. Will post photos shortly but it is pretty gummed up. I bench tested it and it seemed weak and then the gear didn't pull back after I removed power. I think a good cleaning may help. Will do that tomorrow night.
The voltmeter is connected to a terminal junction thing I installed so I didn't have to keep removing the tank.
I pulled the starter this evening. Will post photos shortly but it is pretty gummed up. I bench tested it and it seemed weak and then the gear didn't pull back after I removed power. I think a good cleaning may help. Will do that tomorrow night.
2003 R1150R
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
Re: No start in cold
Here are some photos of the starter..
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
I pushed the gear back by hand after I tested it. Otherwise, it was stuck out. The flywheel teeth look fine.
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
I pushed the gear back by hand after I tested it. Otherwise, it was stuck out. The flywheel teeth look fine.
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
Starter motor from BMW R1150R by acurley, on Flickr
2003 R1150R
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!
1999 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic (sold)
1991 Honda Nighthawk CB250 !!