Horrible sound at start up. Starter or battery?
#1
Horrible sound at start up. Starter or battery?
I have an 09 Road King Classic with just a tick under 40K on the clock. I was having problems with the "hot start" compensator issue a while back so last year I put the Screamin Eagle compensator in the bike. That helped for a while but recently I have gotten an intermittent horrible noise when I hot start it. Its a loud bang followed by some grinding noise. It sounds like its coming form the starter and I only get this noise when the bike is hot. Like when I stop for gas and go to restart, it does it. If I let the bike sit, even for 5 or 10 minutes to cool a little it doesn't do it. I thought maybe a tooth was broke off inside the starter housing but a buddy told me it might just need a new battery. As in the battery is too weak to turn it over, but I don't see how that would cause the loud noises I sometimes hear.
The battery is pretty old so I use a tender on it every day but even still it takes a second to start when I hit the button. I hold the starter button and theres a half second delay before the motor turns over. When it does turn over it is slow and labored.
What do you guys think is going on?
The battery is pretty old so I use a tender on it every day but even still it takes a second to start when I hit the button. I hold the starter button and theres a half second delay before the motor turns over. When it does turn over it is slow and labored.
What do you guys think is going on?
#2
#4
I get the same thing on my 1993 Heritage. I don't know what causes it but here's what I've found seems to prevent it.
What I learned to do is after fueling up or whatever reason made me stop, I give the the starter button a quick bump then press it to start. That quick bump seems to eliminate the scream and grind. Your results may vary but give it a try.
What I learned to do is after fueling up or whatever reason made me stop, I give the the starter button a quick bump then press it to start. That quick bump seems to eliminate the scream and grind. Your results may vary but give it a try.
Last edited by Hey Man; 06-17-2019 at 05:04 PM.
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Sorce (06-18-2019)
#5
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2AMGuy (06-17-2019)
#6
I was going to say compensator until you told me that you already replaced it with the SE version, which IIRC came standard starting with 2011. I had similar noises on my 2010 Road King, went with the SE compensator and problem solved. So, unless you compensator went bad, which hasn't been a reported problem with the SE ones, it's time to start eliminating other variables.
Hooking up a strong battery that gives plenty of voltage should be easy - even if you have to rig up some temporary cables in line.
How long ago did you replace the compensator? How did the starter gear look?
Hooking up a strong battery that gives plenty of voltage should be easy - even if you have to rig up some temporary cables in line.
How long ago did you replace the compensator? How did the starter gear look?
#7
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#8
#9
I get the same thing on my 1993 Heritage. I don't know what causes it but here's what I've found seems to prevent it.
What I learned to do is after fueling up or whatever reason made me stop, I give the the starter button a quick bump then press it to start. That quick bump seems to eliminate the scream and grind. Your results may vary but give it a try.
What I learned to do is after fueling up or whatever reason made me stop, I give the the starter button a quick bump then press it to start. That quick bump seems to eliminate the scream and grind. Your results may vary but give it a try.
This was my first thoughts as well.
I was going to say compensator until you told me that you already replaced it with the SE version, which IIRC came standard starting with 2011. I had similar noises on my 2010 Road King, went with the SE compensator and problem solved. So, unless you compensator went bad, which hasn't been a reported problem with the SE ones, it's time to start eliminating other variables.
Hooking up a strong battery that gives plenty of voltage should be easy - even if you have to rig up some temporary cables in line.
How long ago did you replace the compensator? How did the starter gear look?
Hooking up a strong battery that gives plenty of voltage should be easy - even if you have to rig up some temporary cables in line.
How long ago did you replace the compensator? How did the starter gear look?
I really don't think its the comp. I remember the sound the comp made and this is different. Its more of a grinding noise.
#10