No crankie in the cold

[XRorXB]

I'm disappointed in her. My 12R would hardly turn over even twice this morning. Temperature is in the mid 30's F.

I hear so many people say it's "normal" that many of us have to first bump the engine against the compression stroke with the starter, and then crank it. I've never bought into that. I think it deserves a battery with more CCA. But I can't stop wondering - if that's true, why wouldn't Buell have noticed this at the factory? So in all fairness, I have not performed any test to be sure my starter is good and doesn't draw too much current. But if it IS a starter issue, then a LOT of people have a starter issue. Even with a brand new battery and solid connections, I had the "crank hesitation against the compression stroke" issue.

Just venting some frustration. Anyway, I hopped on my old faithful CB750 and of course it fired right up and off to work...

 

[Lesley]

I got 38,000 on mine and it has always had a slight hesitation upon pushing the starter switch. The colder it gets the slower the cranking but it has never failed to start, I replace the battery every 3 years regardless.

Its not fair to compare the reliablity of a Honda CB to HD because we all know there is nothing that runs like a Honda.

 

[XRorXB]

At least the 750 has a kickstart for when the battery dies ! Love my Buell and wouldn't trade it for anything - warts and all, as they say.

 

[icecoldcoasty]

HAHAHA could you imagine trying to kick start one of our buells. even with a compression relese i feel like if t ever kicked back it would break your leg.

 

[Thomo]

Shoot I tried to push start it didn't work compression way too high. I use synthetic and I start any temp down to my 20 degree limit. "No cold gear just man up and ride". [cool]

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Wish i had a pic of it, kick starting a shovel head, backfired hit my calf and sent me into a back flip with a bruised calf in bed for days! Thank god for electric start!