Weak cranking 03

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harpo

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Now that winter is just around the corner,I have a question. When it is cold out my 03 has a hard time cranking.I have a Cycle Gear battery and it is the right size. In the warmer months it tuns over fine and this has been the case sents I got the bike in 2010 with the old battery.Would a stock or other battery have more cold cranking amps?

 
Now that winter is just around the corner,I have a question. When it is cold out my 03 has a hard time cranking.I have a Cycle Gear battery and it is the right size. In the warmer months it tuns over fine and this has been the case sents I got the bike in 2010 with the old battery.Would a stock or other battery have more cold cranking amps?
I guess the answer is probably :unsure: The easiest thing to do is try jump starting using a car or truck battery. If it spins over easily then you almost certainly need a new battery.

Don

 
I had to replace my starter motor. A new battery would make things seem OK for a while, but eventually would start to crank slow again. It was only after the new motor was in I realize exactly how much slow the old starter was spinning.

 
Lower temperatures reduce the power of the battery. New battery will help.

The comment about the starter motor is a possibility, BTDT myself. My starter issue was that the bike wouldn't crank when warm, had to sit for 15 minutes or so before it would crank well enough to start.

My own 2003 starts better in the cold when in neutral, and with just a bit of throttle.

 
I know this is obvious, but there's the battery, the starter, and the engine.

Always start without touching the throttle

Below freezing, the oil is much thicker...depending on what type/weight is how thick-10w40 or 15w40, the first number is the "thickness/viscosity" stone cold, the higher the number, the thicker

my Shell Rotella synthetic is 5w40...but this doesn't matter much

The engine stone cold has more drag on the starter.

Starters on plus 100k miles bikes are starting to wear out, but personally, I just think they have a hard time anyway cranking a 1300cc high compression engine.

The brushes do wear and it does deteriote a little at a time over time...I think WFooshee or somebody has a method to check the current while cranking to check the condition of the starter

and battery...my Westco seems to last 3 years and then becomes more marginal than I like since I'm retired and away from home alot (ride 28k mi a year)

I find it's best to keep my battery on a tender 24/7 when it's parked in my garage...I find it makes some difference, especially in the winter to constantly have a "topped off" battery first thing in the morning...seems to make the battery last longers working better

hope this helps

Mike in Nawlins'

Lower temperatures reduce the power of the battery. New battery will help.

The comment about the starter motor is a possibility, BTDT myself. My starter issue was that the bike wouldn't crank when warm, had to sit for 15 minutes or so before it would crank well enough to start.

My own 2003 starts better in the cold when in neutral, and with just a bit of throttle.
let's see, first starter...then a stupid acting injector...next it'll be a loose footpeg !!! :p

 
If it's ok in warm, and bad in cold, my guess is a weak battery.

Is the FJR garaged? Or outside? Kept on a battey tender of some sort?

My FJR has been cranking fine. Until this past Monday morning while visiting friends it sat outside for the night and got cold - my guess in the 30s or low 40s overnight. It cranked slow and didn't start that morning. Luckily, they live on top of a hill. :) It has started fine ever since in warmer temps of my garage back home but I still ordered a new battery as soon as I returned. A Motobatt.

 
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Thanks for the thoughts,I'll add when the battery was new last year it was having trouble turning the engine in the cold. I run Amsoil 10-40 year around and the bike is garaged at home. Last year at work after she set outside It was not going to have enough battery power to start,so before I ran It dead I pushed the beast into a heated warehouse for a few hours and she fired right up. Maybe oil needs to be thinner,or battery needs to be stronger?

 
... the battery was new last year it was having trouble turning the engine in the cold. I run Amsoil 10-40...
1- You probably DON"T have it on a Battery Tender in between rides. Now that I use a Battery Tender, my Batteries are lasting 4-5 years when WITHOUT they lasted about a Year.

2- Your Oil is Fine.

3- IF it does this with a Tender... you probably have a Bad Battery for with today's quality, even the New Ones are Suspect!

 
I think I will try keeping her on the Battery Tender when I'm not riding her in the cold months, an see if that will do the trick.

 
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