Start problem

[airBuell]

I know this topic has been covered as I have searched through the forums but I never did find a definitive answer.

Sometimes my bike starts up like a bike should start. Most times when it starts, I press the start switch and get the normal start noise but it immediately stops, pauses for about 2sec, then starts.

I am thinking it's the battery, I just ordered a volt meter to check it and I keep it on the battery tender 24/7. A main concern I have is that when I got home the other night and I cut power, turned the key to the initial "on" position before "off", the lights turned off. Usually they are on. I am afraid I'm going to lose power while riding.

So far no other symptoms. I hope it's the battery so I can just get a new one, but if it's not the battery, what could it be?

 

[Applepooh]

Mine does the same thing, I think it's just a "buell" thing.

When you should worry is when it doesnt start.

 

[jakestolar]

basically it struggles to turn the engine over?
I think that is a V-twin thing

 

[Applepooh]

I think that is a V-twin thing

Word, I've noticed after I ride and when I turn my bike off, if the fan goes on, the bike will do that "stalled" start, but if the fan doesn't go on, it starts without hesitation.

But again, I could be tripping. I just know it's normal.

 

[jimijeans]

Yes it is Usually a V Twin Engine Harley Thing. Just Slow charge the Battery and take it and have it load tested. The Engine sometimes when shut off stops and the Compression is pretty good, for the Starter is just a Chrysler Mini Van Starter with a few Changes. If it doesn't start perfect every time OR kinda Grunts a little then starts you are usually fine. I know my Rc 51 Starts so smoothly and then the V Twin does its' thing and if I could I would retool the Buell Starters for more torque but the Battery wouldn't last long. Would have to do too much expense wise to do that. So here we are. It just really depends on where the Engine stops pistons wise and other factors. Sometimes it will start right up and sometimes she will grunt. *Jimi

 

[airBuell]

Thanks for the information. Very useful!

 

[BuellyBagger]

the old 1000cc sportster ihad... i swear u could smoke a cigarette(if i smoked) during the stall in the crank over sometimes it was funny. (i even had a big bore gel battery in it)

 

[garyphantom222]

Mine did what some of us call the Buell thing today,I think it has a bit to do with the weather getting cooler,I will be putting my trickle charger on it from now on.

 

[airBuell]

Old topic, but... I forgot to put the trickle charge on the battery for a few days, maybe a week. Started the bike and got the click click click of a dead battery. But then the bike started! Rode it around for a few miles and noticed the clock/trip meter reset. So I brought it back home. Put the battery on the trickle charger.

Used the multimeter a day later and it indicated 13.3V. Bike started fine. Made multiple stops and had to start the bike multiple times. Slow to start as usual. Checked the voltage on the battery after the ride and it was 13.3V..

Is it just a bad battery? Thinking about doing a load test, hoping the autozone can do it for me.

 

[Applepooh]

I know I had a "bikemaster" battery in my bike and the bike ate that battery up, then I got the OEM HD battery and I have YET to have a problem (knock on wood)

 

[myronman3]

it is your connections. clean the connections with a wire brush, and clean the battery posts. also clean the ground on the frame.
i bought a new battery thinking the old battery was going downhill. i got a lithuim battery for a replacement, sometimes it cranks like a demon and other times worse than the old battery. i ended up putting the old battery back in, and it doesnt do it as bad. i suspect the cable connecter that attaches to the battery as there was more angle on it with the lithuim battery. i am going to look into this this winter....it is something that they should not do. the new battery has more cold cranking power than the old, yet the old battery doesnt have this problem AS bad. i really think it is the cable connectors.
anyone actually able to follow that rambling post?

 

[airBuell]

I will clean my connections. I don't understand why I would get indications of a discharged battery when my battery seems fine. IF the terminals were the culprit they would effect the odometer/clock without power being applied to the bike. Unless as power was applied there was a short due to a dirty ground, or something?

With the bike running I had about 14.3V across the terminals. Bike off I had 13.3V on the battery after removing trickle charger. After riding the bike around town my first reading was 13.3V, and then I had another reading of about 12.9V. All seem like indications of a healthy battery and charging system.

 

[jimijeans]

Hey airBuell, might want to check the Battery out of the Bike with a [Load Test] at an Auto parts store. Once that is Accomplished, you can move on to testing the Voltage on the Regulator then the Stator. Sometimes the Stator will barely charge through the Regulator the Regulator will do the same thing. Sometimes the Regulator plug will have a bad connection one minute and you bump or are riding something and it will Quit charging for a couple of miles.
IT WON'T throw a code till the battery is really Low or dead.If your Lucky the Engine light will come on letting you know to check her out Fast! Also Check the Plug and Terminals on the Regulator for burnt wires or loose terminals. Theres a small Kit thats sold for that problem FOR those years of bikes . Now the Volts at [Idle] in Neutral is 12.3 to 12.6 at 1,500RPMs or less. The Volts at above 2,000. plus RPMs on your lightning is supposed to climb as the RPMs go up!Unless you hold it Steady at some RPM point. Charging will Max out at 3,800 to 4,000RPMs to 14.3 sometimes with the Bright lights on it will go up to 14.6 for a second or two. If the Bike is Turning over Slowly after a couple of Days with NO Charger.
Say you don't use your Bike for a week(7)days and it Clicks or turns over slowly? If it turns over slowly a lot thats' really Bad for the Starter. Checking the Terminals is always easy but make sure to Seperately Load Test the Battery if you ARE having to charge it many times a month especially after riding and Two days go by and you hop on to go somewhere it should Spin over Quickly. If a Buell Bike Battery is more than 2 to 3 years old always have a load test done.After Checking the usual areas/Cables and Terminals.
I would hope it was a Battery OR Regulator Plug Before the Starter gets Burned up by low Voltage and frys the Starter. Make sure to Check The Relay switch also. Good luck. Ride Safe. *Jimi

 

[sideng]

I've found that it's a good idea to check the tightness of your battery connections on a regular basis, they have a nasty habit of vibrating loose in a short time even when you "know" you got them tight. All of my starting and "battery" problems have been because of this.

 

[konarider94]

i got a lithuim battery for a replacement, sometimes it cranks like a demon and other times worse than the old battery.

i am having this issue. sometimes it cranks so fast but others the starter will click several times then start like normal. this also resets the clock and trip odo indicating a pretty good voltage drop.

 

[myronman3]

it has got to be something about the way they are wired. mine is still doing this, and it pisses me off to no end.
i have had high compression big twins my entire life and this is NOT normal. i wish i could trace wires out better, i would heavy gauge wires directly where they need to go.

 

[airBuell]

I keep it on the trickle charger, then start it like normal. When it's been sitting in the parking lot for 8hrs I give it a 1sec press of the start switch and release, then hold the start switch until it starts. This seems to be a good work around for the trip odo/clock reset/voltage drop.

 

[riceetr]

Mine was doing the same thing when I bought it so I thought it was the battery so I replaced it, a month later it wouldn't start at all it would just click. I read a bunch on these forums and found someone who took the airbox off and had a loose ground cable so I checked mine and found that one of the bolts was very loose and turned out about a 1/2". I cleaned it up and tightened it up and now it fires up perfectly every time even after sitting for months. So take off the airbox and seat and on the top of the frame there is a cable that connects the ground from one side of the frame to the other and see if its loose.
I got a screaming deal on my bike because the previous owner thought something major was wrong with it.

 

[BrunoBR]

Hi Buellfans, I'm a newbie here and i'm trying to solve a problem like the one reported.
Sorry about my poor english.
My XB9SX has a difficult start. When I push the start button, the instrument panel gives a small flash in the odometer/hour (it turns off but doesn't reset) and the starter motor gives a small stop and them comes with all strenght and the my buell start.
I've changed the battery, thinking it could be the solution, but i was wrong.
The problem persists and i'm thinking to take a look into the starter motor brushes and it's collector ring.
Did someone make this check-up before? Thanks, Bruno (Brazuca).