B
BELG
Guest
The Veg said:
Let it ride down the road next to one a couple times... it'll start liking them too. Trust me...
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engine block heater?
- Thread starter nhlkats
- Start date
Let it ride down the road next to one a couple times... it'll start liking them too. Trust me...
A low-wattage blanket heater, like you get with waterbeds and dog beds, will work, too. I've seen them for batteries, too. A car battery-sized one should work on your engine. If it was water-cooled, you could put in an in-line element, like the old percolators used; in a truck they go in the bottom radiator hose.
But what are you going to do at the other end of the ride? Say you heat it up enough to start it, ride to work, now it sits all day, how are you gonna get it to start for the ride home? Even when I worked at a place with plug ins all along the parking median, that was only in the first few rows. Unless I got there early, I wasn't sure I'd find an open outlet.
But what are you going to do at the other end of the ride? Say you heat it up enough to start it, ride to work, now it sits all day, how are you gonna get it to start for the ride home? Even when I worked at a place with plug ins all along the parking median, that was only in the first few rows. Unless I got there early, I wasn't sure I'd find an open outlet.
Rinty
New member
engine block heater
Kats: There are a number of things to be aware of that affect the starting of an airhead in cold weather. The main issue is that they pump about twice as much oil as any other motorcycle engine, so if you have syrupy 20/50 in the sump, it's going to turn over very slowly. Coupled with that, the carbureters do not have mechanical accelerator pumps which permit you to twist the throttle and get fuel into the combustion chambers. Instead, the constant velocity carbs need some vacuum to lift the slides and get fuel into the cylinders. If the engine isn't turning over quickly, you won't get enough vacuum to get that mixture in there. I also suspect, but I am not sure, that when the cold oil is slowing down the turnover, the battery draw may be so high that there may not be quite enough voltage left to fully power the ignition unit. My suggestion would be that if you are going to be starting this bike in cold weather [i.e. under 32 degrees (F)], you put in a low viscosity synthetic oil and install a quality gel or glass mat battery. Switch to conventional oil, or a blend, in the summer, as the synthetic may harden your seals.
There appear to be other mechanical and electrical issues with your machine, and you need to get it into an airhead specialist who can check it over thoroughly for you.
Hope this helps. Rinty
Kats: There are a number of things to be aware of that affect the starting of an airhead in cold weather. The main issue is that they pump about twice as much oil as any other motorcycle engine, so if you have syrupy 20/50 in the sump, it's going to turn over very slowly. Coupled with that, the carbureters do not have mechanical accelerator pumps which permit you to twist the throttle and get fuel into the combustion chambers. Instead, the constant velocity carbs need some vacuum to lift the slides and get fuel into the cylinders. If the engine isn't turning over quickly, you won't get enough vacuum to get that mixture in there. I also suspect, but I am not sure, that when the cold oil is slowing down the turnover, the battery draw may be so high that there may not be quite enough voltage left to fully power the ignition unit. My suggestion would be that if you are going to be starting this bike in cold weather [i.e. under 32 degrees (F)], you put in a low viscosity synthetic oil and install a quality gel or glass mat battery. Switch to conventional oil, or a blend, in the summer, as the synthetic may harden your seals.
There appear to be other mechanical and electrical issues with your machine, and you need to get it into an airhead specialist who can check it over thoroughly for you.
Hope this helps. Rinty
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J
James.A
Guest
Bob_M said:
Heresy!!!...Infidel!!!...
But seriously..., a battery tender and a 100 watt bulb in a parabolic, clip on reflector socket is all you would ever need inside a garage. Lay the bulb on the floor underneath the motor between the center stand and the rear tire. be sure to remove it before you take off.
The_Veg
D'OH!
Of course it shouldn't need saying, but having the bike well-in-tune is important too. I always thought mine was hard to start when cold until I learned that the bean-can had severely worn parts inside. New can, and now it fires quickly and eagerly every time (unless the plug wires are wet but that's another story).
mika
Still Wondering
nhlkats said:
Glad to hear this.
Do you cover the bike? If not, get an inexpensive cover for it. You can use a lower watt bulb them with less risk and more impact.
From your additional comments in the thread it sounds like a bike that will take a great deal of TLC. I agree with the oil change ideas; also pay close attention to your cables and their proper adjustment.
I hope you have continued good luck.
