Hard Starting 1100 - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

Bugs In My teeth · 10-08-2011, 01:50 PM

05 1100 Shadow spirit
I have an intermittent starting problem. Replaced the battery with a high output. New plugs, good gas.. tightened all the battery connections etc I could get to.
What I’m seeing is, during the summer the bike would get progressively harder to start. Hit the start button and it would hesitate somewhat and them start. This would progressively get to the point where I thought it would not start altogether. I put it on the charger and the process would start again. This included after long rides. Well the weather has gotten colder and just as I suspected, it does not want to start. Turns over really slow. I have good head light power. Have it on the charger now and hope to get it to fire.

What should I be looking at first, second, third, etc. Trying not to take it to a shop.

Frogman172 · 10-08-2011, 02:34 PM

Clean your starter/kill button. Both sides. May take you 15 minutes. Common problem with these bikes.

oconeedan · 10-08-2011, 03:05 PM

WOW, seems like electrical problem week. Look at the threads about cleaning the start switch, do a search. BUT, I am betting you have a RR problem, search for the threads on the mosfet upgrade. Just ordered mine today.
If you put a meter on your battery when the bike is running, if the voltage is less than 13v, you have a charging system problem. The weak charging system, will cause the battery to do what you are describing.
Dan

Mongrel · 10-08-2011, 03:06 PM

Also...

Pull the seat off and check the wiring that is covered with a semi-clear plastic 'condom' (sorry...but that's the best description I could come up with).

My bike was doing some starting shenanigans and it turned out to be a short between the stator wires where they joined to the voltage regulator/rectifier connectors....

Bugs In My teeth · 10-08-2011, 05:16 PM

Not sure how to search for thread on cleaning starter button, do you mean on google?

Scrapdog2grand · 10-08-2011, 06:37 PM

No, on the 2nd black bar down at the top of this page it says SEARCH, use the advanced search, my VLX only puts out 12.5V at idle, 13.7 at 3500.
and even with the fog lights I dont have a starting problem (and thats even when its not on the battery tender).

But it deffinetly sounds like a charging problem.
Do you have any added lights or accessories? if so the load may be to much for the system to keep the battery up to where it needs to be.

sjef · 10-08-2011, 06:44 PM

My 90 1100 did the same thing. Found one of the stator wires was cut and grounding out. Had to remove the stator to repair. It also cooked the rectifier so I ordered one from ElectroSport. Better than OEM and half the price the dealer wanted. Now it starts right up. They need over 12.3 volts to fire.

Shadow Smackz · 10-09-2011, 09:51 AM

sounds like low amps on the battery, it can be showing 12v or better and still not have the amps but then again that prob could be caused by the kill switch not passing enough current due to corrosion, open it up and spray with contct cleaner

Frogman172 · 10-09-2011, 12:55 PM

Bugs hit this link. Starter Button Maintenance on Valkyries. Get a greenie weenie and clean contacts don't just spray it. Be gentle taking apart switch. Small pieces in there.

Frogman172 · 10-10-2011, 03:59 AM

Good call Mongrel. The three yellow wires under the seat. At least on the Aero. The three phase wires. Mine started to show signs of it starting to melt at the connections. I cut them and soldered them together in no particular order.

10-08-2011, 01:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bugs In My teeth Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Meford OR Posts: 36	Hard Starting 1100 05 1100 Shadow spirit I have an intermittent starting problem. Replaced the battery with a high output. New plugs, good gas.. tightened all the battery connections etc I could get to. What I’m seeing is, during the summer the bike would get progressively harder to start. Hit the start button and it would hesitate somewhat and them start. This would progressively get to the point where I thought it would not start altogether. I put it on the charger and the process would start again. This included after long rides. Well the weather has gotten colder and just as I suspected, it does not want to start. Turns over really slow. I have good head light power. Have it on the charger now and hope to get it to fire. What should I be looking at first, second, third, etc. Trying not to take it to a shop.

10-08-2011, 03:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mongrel Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: SOUTH Jersey Posts: 434	Also... Pull the seat off and check the wiring that is covered with a semi-clear plastic 'condom' (sorry...but that's the best description I could come up with). My bike was doing some starting shenanigans and it turned out to be a short between the stator wires where they joined to the voltage regulator/rectifier connectors.... __________________ ...

10-08-2011, 06:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scrapdog2grand Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,501	No, on the 2nd black bar down at the top of this page it says SEARCH, use the advanced search, my VLX only puts out 12.5V at idle, 13.7 at 3500. and even with the fog lights I dont have a starting problem (and thats even when its not on the battery tender). But it deffinetly sounds like a charging problem. Do you have any added lights or accessories? if so the load may be to much for the system to keep the battery up to where it needs to be. __________________ 1999 VLX 1998 SA750 2003 SA750 http://www.cycleterminal.com Motorcycle Terminals, Connectors,Relay Kits, Accessories, Wiring diagrams. Site still under construction. Last edited by Scrapdog2grand; 10-08-2011 at 06:41 PM.

10-08-2011, 06:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
sjef Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 231	My 90 1100 did the same thing. Found one of the stator wires was cut and grounding out. Had to remove the stator to repair. It also cooked the rectifier so I ordered one from ElectroSport. Better than OEM and half the price the dealer wanted. Now it starts right up. They need over 12.3 volts to fire. __________________ 1990 VT1100C 1996 ROAD KING

10-09-2011, 12:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
Frogman172 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 173	Bugs hit this link. Starter Button Maintenance on Valkyries. Get a greenie weenie and clean contacts don't just spray it. Be gentle taking apart switch. Small pieces in there. Last edited by Frogman172; 10-09-2011 at 07:06 PM.

10-08-2011, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Frogman172 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 173	Clean your starter/kill button. Both sides. May take you 15 minutes. Common problem with these bikes.

10-08-2011, 05:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bugs In My teeth Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Meford OR Posts: 36	Not sure how to search for thread on cleaning starter button, do you mean on google?

10-09-2011, 09:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
Shadow Smackz Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fraser, Colorado Posts: 74	sounds like low amps on the battery, it can be showing 12v or better and still not have the amps but then again that prob could be caused by the kill switch not passing enough current due to corrosion, open it up and spray with contct cleaner

10-10-2011, 03:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
Frogman172 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 173	Good call Mongrel. The three yellow wires under the seat. At least on the Aero. The three phase wires. Mine started to show signs of it starting to melt at the connections. I cut them and soldered them together in no particular order.

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