Vulcan Drifter Riders

DISCUSSIONS => Drifter 1500 only => Topic started by: HungLow on May 24, 2019, 10:47:24 AM

Title: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: HungLow on May 24, 2019, 10:47:24 AM
Ok, so I have been having problem with the bike starting in the morning, it's been colder than usual (in California) so not really that cold but still, I thought my bat cca is bad so I bought a new one, no change, especially now that is warmer but still raining. I noticed it normally doesn't give me a problem later in the day only in the mornings, I've looked around to see if anything is loose or shorting, nothing I can see open. Any ideas?

Rc
Title: Re: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: drifter-paul on June 24, 2019, 02:44:35 AM
check your terminal plates on the end of the leads that attach to the battery. Mine were so gummed that I melted the top of the terminal post. Don't know how it happened, as the bike is ridden in clean conditions, but the resistance was incredibly high. :)
Title: Re: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: Troll on June 24, 2019, 07:46:05 AM
Can you describe the symptoms more clearly? Hard to start is a pretty broad spectrum of issues
Title: Re: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: HungLow on May 06, 2020, 08:40:23 AM
Well, on days like today 52 degrees out, it will crank, and keep cranking but not start (carb engine by the way) if I were to jump it, it would start no problem. But if it was during later in the day, it shouldn't be a problem and start right up, no jump needed. It only does it when is a bit colder, if I remember correctly (is not raining anymore) is the same when it rains. :-[
Title: Re: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: Troll on May 06, 2020, 14:45:07 PM
Does it seem to crank more slowly when the problem is present?
Title: Re: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: Bucko on May 06, 2020, 19:30:34 PM
Quote from: HungLow on May 06, 2020, 08:40:23 AM
Well, on days like today 52 degrees out, it will crank, and keep cranking but not start (carb engine by the way) if I were to jump it, it would start no problem. But if it was during later in the day, it shouldn't be a problem and start right up, no jump needed. It only does it when is a bit colder, if I remember correctly (is not raining anymore) is the same when it rains. :-[

I thought all 1500 Drifters were Fuel Injected?
Title: Re: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: HungLow on May 07, 2020, 16:28:41 PM
yes, is a bit slower when the problem is there. If I have it in the trickle charger there is no problem, but if I don't overnight it gives me the problem. I live in an apartment now, harder to have it on the charger every day.

Not sure if all 01s were FI, my registrations says 01, and I have a choke. Never taken it apart to check, but I guess I can look and see.
Title: Re: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: Tim on May 07, 2020, 21:42:34 PM
Your bike is fuel injected.
When you got your new battery was it properly charged up prior to you using it?
Title: Re: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: Troll on May 08, 2020, 07:56:46 AM
the "choke" is actually just a hand throttle with minimal effect. All the 1500 drifters were injected. Don't go by the title to determine year, they are often wrong. There should be a label on the left downtube with the actual year/month of manufacture. Easier to determine model by color/chrome. Do you have an electronic speedometer? Do you have a chrome front end? Does your fuel tank have a seam running around the bottom? If it's turning over slowly after sitting all night, then you either have a bad battery that is self discharging, or a parasitic load on the battery that is running it down.
Title: Re: 01 1500 not starting in the morning no problem in dry afternoons
Post by: HungLow on May 08, 2020, 09:54:32 AM
Yes, I charged it correctly fully before installing the battery.