on cold days, starter will not engage

[beechfront]

hello everyone! been having a rather irritating problem.

took 10 minutes to get my bike started the other day. it will either just spin, or engage for just a split second. If it wasn't a very good starting bike there's no way it would have ever taken off.

i'm running 20w50 dino juice. I wonder if i changed to a different oil during winter months if that would help?

any suggestions?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Beech,

Up there in Nebraska, with such cold temps, I would think a thinner blend of 10-40 or 15-40 would be quite acceptible, and perhaps not as slippery or viscous as the 50wt, which should allow the gears to grab more easily. Or even a straight 30wt during the cold winter might even be feasible, since it definitely won't be getting very warm running thru those 30 degree winds!

It seems to be the same principle as the synthetics vs. Dino in normal temps, just too slippery for conditions!
T.C.

[sksxs1100]

I run penzoil 20-50 year round and hod no problem with the starter UNTIL i added the lucas oil additive. since then i have had a few times that I have had the same starter problem.

[John]

Over riding clutch

These starters have an overriding, or sprag clutch that allows the starter drive to stay engaged while the engine is running, but it just spins on the shaft on higher speeds. One possibility may be the clutch springs and rollers are dirty and with the colder temps, and thicker oil they may not engage the drive, but just spin. Like the starter drive on a car. Try removing the starter and cleaning the drive.

[Bill]

Re: on cold days, starter will not engage

beechfront wrote:

took 10 minutes to get my bike started the other day. it will either just spin, or engage for just a split second. If it wasn't a very good starting bike there's no way it would have ever taken off... i'm running 20w50 dino juice. I wonder if i changed to a different oil during winter months if that would help?

During the winter I've had that problem on occasion. My notion was that it was due to a weak battery rather than the oil. I have no proof either way, though.

Good luck and let us know how it works out!

XSively,

[fusionking]

30wt is thicker in cold weather than say 15w40 so don't try that! That is why the invented multi-vis to start with(pun intended)

[beechfront]

thank you for all of the suggestions. I am quite certain in my case it is not a weak battery causing the problem. I just had it checked a couple of months ago and was told it's in good shape.

I'm guessing it's a combination of thicker oil and starter drive being gummed up.

We've had a warm spell here this week - i need to get things done before it gets cold again.

[John]

Maineiac

Bill, If I may ask, where in Maine are you from? I grew up in Fairfield, just north of Waterville. left there in 77 for the Navy, and now reside near D/FW airport, where I work for American Airlines.

[Tom Andersen]

I give my bike just a little throttle when it's really cold and release it as soon as it fires.

[Bill]

Imported Mainiac

John wrote:

Bill, If I may ask, where in Maine are you from? I grew up in Fairfield, just north of Waterville. left there in 77 for the Navy, and now reside near D/FW airport, where I work for American Airlines.

I live in Caribou... close to Fort Fairfield, but a long way from Fairfield. I landed here in 1987 courtesy of Uncle Sam. I was a B52 navigator stationed at Loring AFB in Limestone. When I got done, I returned to school (again ) and now work as a registered nurse.

XSively,

[xsivebiker]

Sometimes I have trouble on cold days of my starter just spinning and not engaging also. I use a trick that cold weather, ATV owners use. Before trying to start, borrow the wife's blow dryer and warm up/heat the outer surfaces of the starter. Engages every time for me! Seems that after initial warm-up all is fine afterwards [no blow-dryer required]. 'Hope this helps your cold weather start-ups.
Greg C.
'80 XS1100-G "Christine"
'84 GL1200-I
'79 XL250-S

[kkrazyt85]

Blow Dryer

I have used that method in the past as well as using a heat wrap for water pipes and an extension cord it keeps the battery from freezing as well and warms the crankcase a bit.....but simplest fix is to move to the south...although not as cheap....went riding last night and it was 30 degrees at 2 AM....the new chaps work great...however the fingerless gloves were not a good choice...

[nwilley]

I think John has the right answer...the sprag clutch seems to gum up. This is not a problem during warm weather, but cold weather seems to impede its action. This was a problem on my XS, before I sold it. The new owner paid serious $$$ for a Harley shop to open the engine and replace the sprag clutch. I had solved the problem by using synthetic oil, but of course this causes the wet clutch to slip. Mostly, I did not ride when the weather got that cold.

This problem is also reported on the IBMWR (beemer listserve) for K bikes. They think it is to be blamed on the type of oil used (I know, let's start an "oil" thread ). I have wondered if cleaning out the engine would help? I have heard of people running a mix of diesel and engine oil (idle for a few minutes), then draining. Someone else on the list will be much more knowlegdgeable than I on this (I teach high school chemistry )

Best of luck

[Jdwags]

I remember someone also used seafoam and saw aalot of crud come out of that engine too..

[TonimusMaximus]

I'm certainly not an expert on bikes, but I've been dealing with cars for a while. I'll tell you right now that a good cleaning of a starter will do wonders for its life. If every other year or so, you pull it and clean it, it'll last forever. Definately worth the work when you consider that if you keep your baby happy, she'll keep you rollin.