Can't start bike at all in cold weather

Nightsbane · 11-17-2011, 03:47 AM

Need some tips for colder weather starts. Even with the choke on full or at various points it just chugs, trying to start until I run the battery dead. Trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong here.

blaine · 11-17-2011, 08:14 AM

It sounds like your choke is not working.Remove at the carb end with a 14mm wrench and see if the plunger is operating.

:cool:

**jonathan180iq** · 11-17-2011, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaine

It sounds like your choke is not working.Remove at the carb end with a 14mm wrench and see if the plunger is operating.

:cool:

I concur.

Unless you have some other mechanical problem, which I doubt since you weren't on here previously talking about hard starts in warm weather, this would be my first check.

Nightsbane · 11-17-2011, 08:06 PM

It works fine, once it is running I can hear and feel a major difference in the engine with the throttle set to different points. I just can't get it starter anymore now.

mrlmd1 · 11-17-2011, 11:09 PM

Charge up your battery fully or jump it from a non-running car and try it again. It could also be from a partially discharged battery.

Nightsbane · 11-19-2011, 02:16 AM

It was the battery. Charged it for about 5 hours, then it fired right up with choke. Aired the tires, threw in some berryman's and shot down the road B)

blaine · 11-19-2011, 07:06 AM

As a precaution,I would get the battery tested.If the battery starts to give trouble in the colder weather,it is usually a sign that the battery is getting weak.
:cool:

mrlmd1 · 11-19-2011, 11:09 AM

Or neglected by not being ridden enough. That's what in the medical profession is called atrophy of disuse. Ride it or connect up a trickle charger/maintainer, especially in the cold weather. You need a good charged battery to, in addition to turning over the starter, to supply enough juice to fire off the plugs. A common problem in not being able to start, is a partially discharged battery. Glad you solved the problem. Your bike is trying to tell you it needs more exercise.

NonallaNostrum · 11-19-2011, 11:36 AM

whats the avg lifespan of those batteries? or is it a function of use/charge status? i know car batteries are normally crapped out 3-4 yrs, around here. unless big $$ was spent on them

Water Warrior 2 · 11-19-2011, 02:58 PM

A bike battery should last for a few years providing you use the bike regularly enough to keep the battery charged. For cooler temps, storage during winter or riding in the cold a Battery Tender will keep your power needs up to snuff. At a $100+ for a new battery the Tender is a bargain. But you have to use it. Leave it in the box like I did and the penalty is another $100+.

11-17-2011, 03:47 AM	#1
Nightsbane Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 54	Can't start bike at all in cold weather Need some tips for colder weather starts. Even with the choke on full or at various points it just chugs, trying to start until I run the battery dead. Trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong here. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-17-2011, 08:14 AM	#2
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	Re: Can't start bike at all in cold weather It sounds like your choke is not working.Remove at the carb end with a 14mm wrench and see if the plunger is operating. :cool: __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised.
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11-17-2011, 08:06 PM	#4
Nightsbane Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 54	Re: Can't start bike at all in cold weather It works fine, once it is running I can hear and feel a major difference in the engine with the throttle set to different points. I just can't get it starter anymore now.
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11-17-2011, 11:09 PM	#5
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Can't start bike at all in cold weather Charge up your battery fully or jump it from a non-running car and try it again. It could also be from a partially discharged battery. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-19-2011, 02:16 AM	#6
Nightsbane Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 54	Re: Can't start bike at all in cold weather It was the battery. Charged it for about 5 hours, then it fired right up with choke. Aired the tires, threw in some berryman's and shot down the road B)
	0

11-19-2011, 07:06 AM	#7
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	Re: Can't start bike at all in cold weather As a precaution,I would get the battery tested.If the battery starts to give trouble in the colder weather,it is usually a sign that the battery is getting weak. :cool: __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised.
	0

11-19-2011, 11:09 AM	#8
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Can't start bike at all in cold weather Or neglected by not being ridden enough. That's what in the medical profession is called atrophy of disuse. Ride it or connect up a trickle charger/maintainer, especially in the cold weather. You need a good charged battery to, in addition to turning over the starter, to supply enough juice to fire off the plugs. A common problem in not being able to start, is a partially discharged battery. Glad you solved the problem. Your bike is trying to tell you it needs more exercise.
	0

11-19-2011, 11:36 AM	#9
NonallaNostrum Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 17	Re: Can't start bike at all in cold weather whats the avg lifespan of those batteries? or is it a function of use/charge status? i know car batteries are normally crapped out 3-4 yrs, around here. unless big $$ was spent on them
	0

11-19-2011, 02:58 PM	#10
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Can't start bike at all in cold weather A bike battery should last for a few years providing you use the bike regularly enough to keep the battery charged. For cooler temps, storage during winter or riding in the cold a Battery Tender will keep your power needs up to snuff. At a $100+ for a new battery the Tender is a bargain. But you have to use it. Leave it in the box like I did and the penalty is another $100+.
	0