always the battery.. how to start?

neoh

neoh

XS400 New Member
Messages
3
Reaction score
2
Points
3
Location
Vancouver
Hello.

I have an 81 xs400s cafe. It has a Li battery under the seat. The bike has been sitting obviously all winter, and trying to get it started up for the spring. My last battery toasted from an overcharge, so I got a new one - the new one, won't start the bike, so the battery died. I bought a Li charger. I charged it, still won't start before the battery is dead. Charged it again, still won't start. The battery is just not lasting long enough to get it warmed up enough to start it.

Question is - can I jump start the bike to get it started, then install the battery?
 
Obviously you prepped the engine prior to starting it?

It doesnt hurt to pour gas in the cylinders so you can get an instant kick over instead of cranking the starter for 30 seconds.

When I was first getting my bike to start, I jumped it with a car battery.
 
Sound like your battery is too small for an e-start. Stock is 12ah. Are you able to kick start it?
 
Yeah 4 cell will get killed quick with e-start.
The bike should start cold with the choke on one/two kicks or blip of the starter. If it's not doing that, you need to sort out the carbs. Or else you'll just keep killing batteries.
 
The bike should start on one or two kicks if it's tuned correctly. The AG 4-cell only has 120 CCA to work with, so that's going to kill the battery pretty quickly with the E-start.

When I picked up my bike this winter and finally tuned up the points/plugs/carbs I was able to kick it over on the 2nd try with a dying battery (11.5V) when it was -5°C on the 2nd click of the enrichment plunger. Sounds like something's not quite tuned up properly.


You could jump the bike with the battery in it.... it really shouldn't hurt it as long as the battery/source you're using is less than 14.5V.
 
Last edited:
My 82 starts from cold (even when it's been standing for a week, outside in cold weather) I just prime the carbs, put the choke to about 3/4 full, and one stab of the starter button, usually gets the old girl running! (Two go's on the start button, maximum!)
My battery is a standard 12v 12ah, so it has plenty of extra power available, IF needed?
I suggest you get a 12v 12ah battery, and follow my starting procedure? after all, it can't harm your bike, and it may just get you running smoothly?

Merlin
 

Similar threads

N
1979 SX 400 electric start
Replies
4
Views
298
Itschrisb
I
Joe_Delli
Electrical issues: No Power
Replies
9
Views
740
LeBouc
L
A
xs400 maxim 82, battery/ general issues.
Replies
5
Views
769
CaptChrome
CaptChrome
Pmcbee
My xs400 adventure begins!!!
Replies
1
Views
179
CaptChrome
CaptChrome
C
78 Xs400 2e starting issues
Replies
3
Views
770
Clive
C
Back
Top