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Cold starting issue 2016 FLSTFB LO S

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  • LOFB
    LOFB
    5 years ago
    HI all
    Six months ago I started to notice cold early morning starting to be an issue, "and that was summer" my bike was only 12 months and 12000 km old,the battery has always been on a HD battery tender.and the bike has only done longish runs to work and home,110 kms rournd trip.
    Ive tested the battery and and found nothing nothing wrong with it , I spoke to the guys at the shop where I purchased my bike  Great Southern Motor Cycles, they said bring it in and we will put it on our HD diognostic test/ charger. ,HD print out test report comes back  "good battery"  advice from shop is to put a new battery in the bike and everything will be sweet. 
    The bike is still under warranty, though the battery wouldn't be as its over 12 months old but the thing is there is nothing wrong with the battery anyway, according to their tester..
     I feel like i'm in the twilight zone  "The recommended " fix" is,  replace the battery but the test says there is nothing wrong with it.....
    I believe it has something to do with cold cranking because if I push the bike out of the shed and put in the sun with the seat off for an hr the battery heats up and it turns over sweetly just as the maker intended.
    Any advice opinions or experiences greatly appreciated.
    LOFB
  • steelo
    steelo
    5 years ago
    Does it make a difference if you increase the CCAs by jumping it / backing it up with one of those USB or other style battery packs.
    My bike was playing up this winter even though it is on a tender all the time. The battery was U/S. A new one has solved all the issues
  • LOFB
    LOFB
    5 years ago
    Steelo
    yes jump starting will get me going, the issue  is battery and bike are  only 18 months old  HD report indicates battery is 100% good !
  • MitchFXDF
    MitchFXDF
    5 years ago
    LOFB
    i think steelo means that when the shop tested, the battery was warm so showed up as good. He means to add the booster when the battery is cold on the cold morning and if that improves the CCA then the battery is probably on the way out.
  • robnicko
    robnicko
    5 years ago
    LOFB

    put a multimeter on the battery and observe when cranking.

    It should read 12.8 or thereabouts before cranking and once ignition turned on will drop to around 12.6 (headlight / fuel pump draw)  however if it drops below 9.6v whilst cranking then its likely on the way out or has a faulty plate internally (make sure connections are good and tight)
    Mine did that last year and was only a few months old but replaced under warranty, sometimes would struggle however once 'warmed up' would seem ok and my tender (optimate) picked up the fault in that after riding would not trickle charge the battery (red fault light would come on), half an hour later or so the tender would kick in and start charging. Eventually, I went to start it one day and nothing....
    my new battery voltage is around 12.9 (no load) and during cranking drops to just over 11v, then once started reads around 14.3 whilst motor is running & charging plus connecting the tender after a ride is no issue now with the new battery.

    rob

  • Ratbob
    Ratbob
    5 years ago
    Had the same issue with my 110 and reckon your spot on about the cranking amps.  Took my batt to dealer, did the diagnostic, reported battery good, gave me the print out with smiley face on it and batt stats. Can’t remember them exactly but I noticed the cranking amps were down. 
    Put in a new battery and no more problems. 
    If you’re using your bike regularly, why run the tender, some argue it’s not good for the batt.
    As an afterthought, if you’ve ever had your bike reflashed, check that your auto compression releases are switched on.
  • brash
    brash
    5 years ago

    Good old ACR's not working. There is a recall for your bike. Harley Aus are useless and didn't tell anyone.

    Google "strategy 621"

    Essentially, even though the ACR's are turned On in the tune, they don't actually do anything. After the update you will hear an audible click as the ACR engages. The bike will start like it's connected to 415V after that.


  • LOFB
    LOFB
    5 years ago
    Thanks lads for the input and info im going into the shop armed with the possible problem being the ACR and the possible update needed after reading about Strategy621 
    "thanks Brash" ill let you all know how it all ends up. 
  • leachy
    leachy
    5 years ago
    Hi All,
    I have noticed this too on my 2016 Low Rider, are ACR's on all twin cams or only on the larger 110's. Mines been reflashed and it is really struggling to start in the weather even with the HD trickle charger.

    Regards
    Leachy
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    Try putting your bike stand on a Harley jiffy stand or something like that. Someone on here gave me the tip a while back. 
    My 103 always has the tender attached and on a jiffy. On real cold mornings - 0 to minus 5 so far - she struggles a bit but a lot less if been on a jiffy stand for the night. Starts 8-10 hours later after work no worries, which I assume is because the work garage is circa 20 all day.
  • fatbat
    fatbat
    5 years ago
    Quoting JFE on 13 Jul 2018 10:12 AM

    Try putting your bike stand on a Harley jiffy stand or something like that. Someone on here gave me the tip a while back. 

    My 103 always has the tender attached and on a jiffy. On real cold mornings - 0 to minus 5 so far - she struggles a bit but a lot less if been on a jiffy stand for the night. Starts 8-10 hours later after work no worries, which I assume is because the work garage is circa 20 all day.

    What do you mean by on a jiffy stand? Isn't that just the yankee word for the side stand? Trying to understand how/why your bikes struggles less to start in these circumstances 
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    See image below. I not a rocket scientist, like some, but I live somewhere f’n cold and using this in conjunction with a tender makes a quantifiable difference to cold starts on my 2015 103 Dyna.

    85A9C190-5684-4BE2-85DC-317D37677A1C.jpeg
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    And yet it works.
    It’s Voodoo, all in a cold garage.
  • Ratbob
    Ratbob
    5 years ago
    Not sure about voodoo, sounds more like a leaky earth.
    With the bike on the coaster, run a multi meter from the side stand to the concrete and see if you get even the tiniest current.
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    Will do that at next service however I think it works well noting what it is being asked to do. Not an issue to me, and certainly not an issue during summer months.
  • Omzz48
    Omzz48
    5 years ago
    Thought I’d post this here beacaus it’s about the battery, 
    So yesterday my sporty wouldn’t start been in the charger for 2 weeks tried jumping it still nothing, obviously the battery’s gone. This has happened before but usually I can jump it. Anyway call Harley heaven, new battery is $178 which I’ll purchase, but the bloke reckons I should park my bike on cardboard or rubber so it’s off the concrete because it draws from the battery, couldnt believe it. Is he talking shit or is he right ? 
  • Baloffski
    Baloffski
    5 years ago
    I tend to be wired (yeah is sad) to last comment made by loopie.
    Battery is gone man, as in fuck ed. Go from there.
  • Omzz48
    Omzz48
    5 years ago
    Don’t worry I laughed when he said that, such rubbish, it just doesn’t make sense. Knew the battery was on the way out it’s been solid for 4 years so that’s not bad. Time of a new one
  • LOFB
    LOFB
    5 years ago
    Thanks Brash and every one for the input , it was the ACR not working  and when I suggested to the owner of the shop he re programs the software with Strategy 621 his jaw nearly hit the counter. Remembering this was a new bike still under warranty nothing wrong with the battery, but he wanted me to replace the battery at my expense ! 
    As you can tell I don't get on a computer that often. Thanks again.


  • steelo
    steelo
    5 years ago
    Love the way Brash like a wise old owl has just given his input in a concise post on the 13th July and then sat back. Well done Brash and glad it got sorted LOFB.
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