570 cold start problem

I have a 2011 FE 570 S; Re-mapped, de-smogged, muffler mod, header wrapped, tank taped, fan kit., LED tail light, all with this forums help.

Bike was running and starting great and our relationship was blossoming like a...never mind, wrong forum.

At 13.5 hours I couldn't leave well-enough alone. I have the valves checked (ok – no adjustment), throttle play tightened, changed oil, and I add the 70 deg. sub tank. Button it all up, hit the start button and the battery can barely turn the engine over. I tighten terminals, check connections, add jumper cables and still very slow cranking but it finally does start. It warms up for a few minutes and then restarts easily, cranking as normal. I ride it for 40 min. or so and all seems ok, again, restarting with no problems. I put on the battery tender and get ready for a trail ride the next day.

The next day we unload the bikes and mine barely cranks over again (it’s a 65-70 deg. morning). It cranks slowly for 3 seconds, I stop, retry, it doesn’t turn over but tries. A few more tries then it cranks slowly again but no start. Add jumpers from the pickup with no improvement in cranking. A few more tries, add a little throttle and it spins a little quicker and starts. It idles for a few minutes then restarts with no problem, cranking quickly as normal. And continues to flawlessly restart many times the rest of the day on tight technical single track on a warm day.

Load up happy and head home thinking that the battery is fully charged and my start problems are gone after 3 hours of run time. No so. I try starting again a few hours after the ride (cold) and same slow cranking, not cranking, then cranking again and then starting. Hot starting is not a problem, warm or slightly warm is not a problem. Stone cold is a problem and that is only San Diego cold. It seems like the auto cam decompression is not working when cold. The bike is clearly charging and the battery seems up to the task but I’m not exactly savvy with a multimeter. I had the same problem this morning with the battery tender on all night showing a green light; slow cranking, no cranking, then it starts and easily restarts.

Any ideas? Where should I start? I’ve had the bike for 3 weeks and never put it on a battery tender for the first 13 hours. Strong starts every time.

How does the auto decompression work? Could reducing the throttle play affect it at all? Is there some electronic signal for the auto decompression or is it purely mechanical? I had a respected mechanic check the valves and they did not require any adjustment; could that procedure affect the auto decompression some how?

Almost stranded in San Diego.

Dual Rider,
Did you by chance adjust the throttle play on your bike? I removed the small amount of slop and my cold start problem started. A knowledgable Husaberg rep told me that you can't remove the throttle play on a fuel injected bike because the throttle position sensor becomes unhappy somehow. I've tried to readjust my throttle play to varying amounts of play (5mm to 12mm) but with no success of fast cranking. Just curious if you inadvertantly adjusted your throttle plasy as well. Please let me know.

I just got mine back yesterday after a week in the shop with a new starter and battery and the exact same problem. They originally said the the starter was drawing too many amps and replaced it with no improvement. They also re-adjusted the already in spec valves. The shop mechanic is scratching his head and will talk to Husaberg next week. Meanwhile, I brought it home so I can ride this weekend. We put in an 8 cell Ballistic battery with more cranking power which so far has eventually cranked over and started but all agree it isn't right. The good news it's not a wide spread problem; the bad news is its our problem. Let's stay in touch.

Berger,
I watched your video of the torque limiter problem; that is not the problem my bike has or at least my bike doesn't sound like that or crank that fast when it does in fact crank over. On the other hand, I'm not really sure what the torque limiter is doing; I can see it slips but why? Does it allow the starter get up to speed then grab and crank the engine? Perhaps my limiter is too tight, which prevents the starter from getting up to speed. Please advise.

Cold Start Update.

This last Wednesday a friend and I trailer out to the desert for some riding. The 570 engine is cold but it is 85 degrees out and it starts first try; cranked a little slow but acceptable. She runs and starts great the rest of the day with ride time of about 3 or 4 hours and we head home. Later that evening in the garage, about 65 degrees, engine cold again; no start. I push the starter about 8 times with no cranking, then a small crank movement, then slow cranking and starting -- the same problem as before. 20 degrees makes a difference, evidently.

I'm still waiting for the dealer to come up with a plan and they are waiting for some direction from Husaberg. And I always carry a tow strap now so I can start my new high-end dirt bike anywhere and at any temperture. Arrggh.