View Full Version : Bike won't start in the cold
formula400
17-01-12, 10:33 AM
Right last week and today when it's been proper cold the 99 sv650 won't start.
I had a new battery in October when it was cold, as it was doing the same.
Since then it been starting and running fine, until now, I have tried starting it with the lights off but it just keeps trying to turn over but won't fire up. Now it won't as it sounds like the battey is flat.
What's the way to go to get it sorted???
Sell it and by a pointy :)
Biker Biggles
17-01-12, 01:22 PM
Find out why the battery is going flat.When you replaced it last time did you check the charging system to find out if it was ok?If not best do it now before spending hard earned on another battery.Does the bike get regularly used for longer trips or does it have a trickle charger to keep the battery happy?
mister c
17-01-12, 01:26 PM
Curvies do have a tendency to kill the regulator rectifier. As said above, check your charging system
Fill it with super unleaded. My old curvy used to have a so-so battery. When it got cold I had a 50:50 of it starting in the mornings and if it didn't start straight away it didn't have enough oomf to turn it over long enough to fire up.
Switched to super unleaded (esso or Shell) and it started on the button all through the winter on the same tired battery.
May just have been a coincidence but seems my 125 scooter (carbed) behaves the same way when cold.
formula400
17-01-12, 03:05 PM
Yes fwr in vauxhall checked the charging system and said it seemed ok but if I had problems take it back.
But it sort of warmed uP and had been fine.
I have been using 97/98 Ron petrol once in a blue mOon, I'll try that in the future
formula400
17-01-12, 03:05 PM
Yes fwr in vauxhall checked the charging system and said it seemed ok but if I had problems take it back.
But it sort of warmed uP and had been fine.
I have been using 97/98 Ron petrol once in a blue mOon, I'll try that in the future
Biker Biggles
17-01-12, 03:44 PM
If the charging system is good check all the connections are clean and sound,especially the battery terminals.The SV needs a lot of battery welly to turn the engine and start up especially in the cold.Any poor connections will drain some of that welly from where it needs to be.Also make sure the battery is kept fully charged by going for longer rides and putting it on a trickle charger from time to time.
i think about 15 minutes of riding is just to replace to power you took out the battery from starting, anything less will just slowly start to drain it out.
Switched to super unleaded (esso or Shell) and it started on the button.
Tesco is better, their super is 99 ron, not 97 like the others. All I can use when its this cold.
formula400
17-01-12, 11:35 PM
Ok so check the connections, ok, my ride
To work is 12 miles, 35 ish mins in
Traffic.
Just checking, what's your technique? Usually find full choke and NO THROTTLE will do it. If you touch the throttle while trying to start it cold on choke it tends to make it reluctant.
Also once it has started don't keep blipping the throttle, that just promotes plug fouling. Simply ease off the choke gradually until it's running smoothly, ride off gently and get the choke fully off as soon as you can.
Iridium plugs usually help with cold starting, they give the ignition system an easier life with a reduced spark voltage requirement and improved ignitability of lean mixtures, but they won't cure another fault.
formula400
04-02-12, 09:29 AM
in the end the AA come out bumped it and from then it went fine, it been fine since, plugs looked ok, then this morning, bloody cold again it would`t start.
for starting i put the choke on full and hold the starter button till it fires, no throttle.
Have you switched to super-unleaded yet? Trust me, it makes a huge difference to starting a carbed bike in the cold. Cost you a few pence extra at the next fill-up and if it doesn't make a difference it's hardly a difficult "mod" to reverse.
yorkie_chris
05-02-12, 03:09 PM
Check it's generally fettled, carbs clean and balanced, plugs fresh, battery healthy.
Interesting thread. My battery died at the end of last year. Since then I have had problems starting in the cold. I don't use my bike so regularly now so it my be a week or more before a ride. I have checked the charging system fully and all the connectors, including the fuze box, I could get my hands on, and it checks out with my multimeter. I have an Oxford Optimiser which I keep connected, but there is no guarantee it will start after quite a few days rest. The last 2 times I tried it didn't fire up, it went flat and a quick charge made it possible. I put Iridium plugs in a year ago.
Today, after more problems and an oil change, I went out for a ride to burn some regular fuel. I had done 80 miles since my last fuel up and I put some super unleaded in. I put a few more miles in to ensure it was mixed in and in the carbs. I'll give it till Thursday and try it again. Fingers crossed the super unleaded will work it's magic!
metalmonkey
06-02-12, 02:23 AM
Tesco is better, their super is 99 ron, not 97 like the others. All I can use when its this cold.
Nah got for the main line stations, as already stated they have better additives in fuel thought it seems to produce better mpg try that first over tesco.
esso,bp etc,theyre super wasnt enough for my sv.so thats why I use tesco super,and in cold weather thats all i'll use.
Super is a simple fix for many people but for some reason folks want to go down the reg/rec, new battery, replace the entire loom, carb strip, choke rebuild, rejetting, new cams, fill the tyres with nitrogen, in fact anything apart from possibly the easiest experiment of spending an extra 50p next time you fill it up!
Be interesting to see if it helps the current batch of non-starters.
formula400
06-02-12, 05:51 PM
ive filled up 3 times with tesco and shell super un leaded., wont fire up in the cold.
Biker Biggles
06-02-12, 07:57 PM
Check it's generally fettled, carbs clean and balanced, plugs fresh, battery healthy.
General servicing stuff like this will show up an issue when it gets marginal----that is cold.The other thing that occurs is chokes.Does it fail to start when you need choke?Are the chokes all working?Well known to cause trouble on the curvy.
formula400
09-02-12, 12:06 PM
every morning i start the bike i use the choke, and so when its bloody cold yeah i use it, how do i go about checking the choke???
i had the AA out last night and he seemed to think it needs a more powerful battery, but then said there will not be enough room in there, he said once it gets as cold as it has been the bike needs that little bit more power to turn over.
yorkie_chris
09-02-12, 06:31 PM
Fact is the bike is designed to work in all condition with the battery it had from factory, and the boggo pump fuel.
Oe battery is fine if healthy and charged.
formula400
10-02-12, 02:02 PM
the battery is 6 ish months old, my local shop tested it and said its fine.
My attempt to start a few days ago when it had been really cold, and after adding some super, was not successful. It did have quite a good go at turning over before giving up the ghost though. I had to reconnect my Oxford optimser to charge it back up. I had a another go today after a relatively milder (ie not below freezing) night and it fired up first time! It's all very strange.
I usually just use Morrisons standard unleaded as it's not to far from my house but after reading this thread I thought I would give the Shell V Power (at least that's what think it's called) But now my bike takes longer before it can idle properly from cold and generally runs rough. Think I will just go back to standard unleaded but from Shell's garage as it's only 1p more than Morrisons.
rob_scott92
10-02-12, 09:04 PM
I had to leave mine outide work the other night as it wouldnt start, would just turn over and cough a couple of times. I assumed it was my battery as ive had issues with the charging sytem (hopefully sorted now ive bought a new reg/rec) But as i was trying i remembered a fair few people have said about blocked breathers in the fuel cap can cause annoying issues like this, so i went to open it to rule it out and i couldnt get the key in! Was all iced up.
Came back the next day with my mate and some jump leads (Didnt need them) started up like a dream. I did charge the battery afterwards as the cold and me trying to start it for about 30 mins wont have done it any favours.
So id keep that in mind, perhaps carry around some WD40 to squirt down the key hole to melt the ice if you come accross the same problem ;)
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