Bad sound upon start-up :(

[Leathercash]

Ok so winter sucks but I still start up my 04'Lightning xb12s once or twice EVERY week. The most recent start-up gave me a terrible "winding and click/clack/cranking" sound. Thats the only way to describe it. It did start after a couple tries. This bike only has 5000 miles on it and is stored in heated storage. I just don't like that sound I heard,and it happens every start-up. Is it the starter??? Trans luid is brand new,same with oil.

 

[Path125]

I think i got the same noise when i tried starting mine one last time before the cold weather came around (in Canada). it had been about 0' to -5' for a couple of days though. I just figured the oil had thicken with the low temperatures and the starter had a hard time turning the engine over and was slipping.... so I left it and waiting for the spring to try again.

I was thinking a heating the bottom of the engine with a shop lamp or heat gun to warm up the oil but never got around to it. We are under 3 feet of snow!

 

[typeone]

i dont know what the sound is but... starting a bike for a little while then shutting it down during the winter months, if youre not going to ride it, is one of the worst things you can do to a motorcycle. best to winterize it properly and leave it alone.

do you keep the battery on a tender?

 

[Leathercash]

No I don't keep a battery on a tender,I know I should though. If starting your bike in the winter every now and then is no good,then I just won'y do it I guess. Just have a gaping void if I don't hear it Thanks typeone

 

[typeone]

yeah, the little Tender Jr's rock, i love mine. comes with a little pigtail you hook on the battery then just tuck it somewhere convenient. plugging in for tending is cake after that.

regarding storage, i hear ya, i go into withdrawals too with no throttle twisting best to clean the bike up real good, change the oil and filter, add Stabil to the tank and top it off, plug the exhaust from rodents (i use a 4-stroke dirt bike plug in my Drummer), wheels up off the ground or on carpet/wood, cover it and dont touch it until spring. this is my short routine, here's a link to a great article on the FULL routine...

SuperbikePlanet - How to Winterize Your Motorcycle