Trouble starting cold - choke doesn't help

[ArizonaKev]

Hi everyone :)

It's been awhile since I've been on here, largely because my bike has been running awesome - until this morning anyway. I went out to start it after not having ridden it in about a week, and it just would not start. It was about 38 degrees, which isn't extremely cold, but cold for Phoenix.

I typically use the choke when it is cold, and don't have any issues. But this morning, it seemed like the bike was having a much harder time even turning over the more I put the choke on. With no choke at all, and no throttle, it would at least hit a few times and then die immediately. But with choke, it wouldn't hit at all, and sounded like it was killing the battery.

I checked some older posts on here, and I can't think of any advice that was previously given that I didn't try. I have been running some good Lucas carb cleaner in the gas about every 3rd of 4th tank, and up until this morning when I couldn't get it started, the bike has been running great.

Any ideas, advice, or wisdom from anyone out there? As always, it's greatly appreciated :2tup:


AzKev

[patrick_777]

Your battery needs charging. The cooler temps have hurt it.

[ArizonaKev]

Thanks Patrick - I was wondering about that. You think I can get away with just taking it out and getting it charged, or might I need a new one? I guess I can take it in and get it tested to find out. Do you trust the usual auto parts stores, like AutoZone, Checker, O'Reilly's to do that, or do you think I should take it to a motorcycle shop?

Probably silly questions, but I have been known to be silly at times! :retard:

Thanks :2tup:


AzKev

[jonathan180iq]

Also, make sure you have no vacuum leaks and that gas is flowing cleanly from the tank.

[jonathan180iq]

Splurge $30 on a real battery charger.

http://www.elec-intro.com/EX/05-15-02/Battery_Charger.jpg

[mrlmd1]

Those batteries should be charged at a 2 amp rate - much higher can damage them and boil them out.
Don't go out and buy a new battery, just charge yours up - the inactivity and the cold have discharged it low enough so that the bike won't start.
You can try and jump the bike from a NON-RUNNING car using battery cables to see if you can start it, but running the bike in the driveway for 1/2 hour will not recharge the battery sufficiently for you to start it again if it's that cold. Get a small battery charger or trickle charger and you'll be OK and use it appropriately to keep the battery topped up for the winter. You do not have to take the battery out of the bike - most of the small chargers/maintainers come with cables that can be permanently attached to the battery, with a plug to go the charger, Hook this up and it's real easy to use any time you need it.

[ArizonaKev]

Thanks jonathan and mrlmd1. I think I will do just that - go out and buy a battery charger as you suggested. I'm not sure about the vacuum leaks, I suppose I could check for that too.

Thanks guys -- you rock! :2tup:

AzKev

[ArizonaKev]

joanathan - question for you : where can I get a charger for $30? Every one I am seeing is at LEAST $60 - any tips?

Thx....

AzKev

[jonathan180iq]

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-6-amp-6- ... 45005.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/2-6-amp-6-12-volt-battery-charger-45005.html)

And you can usually find coupon codes for HF as well. Best tool website you are ever going to find.

EDIT: For vacuum line testing, simply follow all of the rubber hoses that come out of your carb and make sure they are all tight and snug on both ends. IIRC, it's only a couple of hoses. Just to cover your bases.

[ArizonaKev]

Awesome dude - thanks! I think there are even some Harbor Freight stores here in Phoenix. For some reason, I was under the impression that most of the stuff there was cheaply made - any truth to that at all? Of course, sometimes I just want something quick and cheap, but for some stuff I want something I know will last. What has your experience been with HF?

Thanks again :)

AzKev

[jonathan180iq]

Unless you are working in a state-of-the-art shop and you need industrial strength tools to get your jobs done, HF stuff is just fine.

I have plenty of things from there and have yet to have a problem.
So their stuff is made in China... just like everything else in this country. :)

[JWR]

I caught this one on sale at HF for 9.95.

[attachment=0:344h3a23]100_0085.JPG[/attachment:344h3a23]

[mrlmd1]

There's always Walmart, Autozone, Advance, any number of places to spend $30 or less. Go online and search for a small battery charger, or battery maintainer, or trickle charger.

[alantf]

Got a decent bike charger/tender , last year, for €15 at our local supermarket, & things are usually cheaper in America. :)

[dentheman]

They are available everywhere everyone stated above. And if you can wait a few days for delivery you can get an excellent deal from Amazon.com. My daughter got me a 1.5 amp 6-12volt Schumacher charger/maintainer there for Christmas for less than $20. It will charge batteries that are not completely dead and maintain them for long periods of not being used or in cold weather.

I agree with mrlmd1, you don't want a charger that puts out more than 2 amps for the smallish motorcycle and ATV batteries, more powerful chargers are for car batteries.

[ArizonaKev]

Thanks all. I went to WalMart and picked up a Shumacher charger for $30, and it seems pretty nice. I took the battery out and am charging it up tonight - let you all know the results tomorrow.


AzKev

[ArizonaKev]

BIG thanks to Patrick and Jonathan. I went to WalMart and bought a nice little Shumacher charger/maintainer for $30. I got it home, took the battery of my bike, and charged it on the 2A setting as suggested. Went out the next morning when it was cold again, and with the freshly charged battery and the choke on, bike fired right up.

Thanks for the advice all!

:2tup:

Az Kev

[JWR]

I grew up in the era of, if it would turn over it would crank.

Today the battery must be very near 100%.

A good battery is one of the cheapest investments you can make.
An $80.00 battery will last from 5 years +++.

[jonathan180iq]

A good battery is one of the cheapest investments you can make.
An $80.00 battery will last from 5 years +++.

Yep. Battery in my Metro is an '05 and it still cranks like a new battery.
That's unheard of in most cars.

[mrlmd1]

BIG thanks to Patrick and Jonathan. I went to WalMart and bought a nice little Shumacher charger/maintainer for $30. I got it home, took the battery of my bike, and charged it on the 2A setting as suggested. Went out the next morning when it was cold again, and with the freshly charged battery and the choke on, bike fired right up.

Thanks for the advice all!

:2tup:

Az Kev

And what about ME? I suggested Walmart. (j/k) (not really)

You don't have to remove the battery to charge it, that's a PIA. Those small chargers usually come with leads to install permanently on the battery with a plug on the end left dangling in some accessible place under the seat to hook up to the charger whenever you need it. Like once a week or two if the weather's real cold and you're not riding the bike much. Don't forget, the bike's charging system is pretty puny and letting it run at idle for 10-15 min will not recharge what you took out of the battery to start it. Plug it in and put it on the trickle charger when it's really cold to keep it topped up.

[jonathan180iq]

Plus it's always cool to have plug-in play stuff. When people watch you "plug in" your battery charger they're all like:

"Wow! I aint ne'er seen sumthin' that coo. It's like Maaagic."

http://thatgirlkate.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/tsott_surprised03.jpg

[Water Warrior 2]

Plug an play stuff is awesome. I ordered an extra permanent hook up for Lynda's bike and I just have to unplug from one bike to the other in a matter of seconds.