Bike rarely/never starts when Temp<40°F

[DucHead]

'05 S4R...over the years with different engine/exhaust mods, DP ECU, etc., OEM Yuasa battery and now Odyssey 310...

My bike has > 44k miles, runs great but just won't start (and never did on a regular basis) when the temperature is less that 40° F.   It'll crank about 6-7 times and then not enough juju to turn the motor over.  When I leave it I plug in the (annoying) ACI charger.

So, the Bandit'll always start and I'll ride that to work, return home for lunch, eat and by thn the Duc will start right up provided the temps are over 40.

Anyone have any thoughts on the starting problem when "cold?"

Incidently, my Bandits start when the ambient temperatures are in the teens Fahrenheit.

[Düb Lüv]

What weight oil are you using?

[Nomad]

Not sure if it is the same problem as the earlier monsters, but mine wouldn't start well when it was cold until I upgraded the starter wires.  I don't see one for an S4R on this site, but I put these on my m900 and the difference was night and day.

http://www.powerlet.com/product/ducati-starter-rewire-kit-1999-900-750-monster/298

[Speeddog]

My S4 wasn't really fond of starting in those kinds of temps.

But...that was with an FIM U59 ECU, which has since died.

Might try disconnecting the headlight, see if that preserves enough battery mojo to get it lit.

I've found (on other bikes with bad grounds and electrical maladies) that a low voltage at the ECU causes it to not behave well, spark is random if at all...

[Howie]

For starters (pun intended) your Odyssey battery is notably less powerful than the Yuasa your bike came with, 7 AH, 100 CCA compared to 10 AH and 310 CCA.  That battery is fine for the fair weather rider, but no0t for winter starting.  You need a battery with the same rating as a starting point.  If the bike is still problematic, then look for high resistance in the connections.

[ducpainter]

If you want cold weather starting performance go back to an original size battery and upgrade the cables.

Problem solved.

[ducatigirl100]

I just run beside it until it's starts   

although, I gonna get better cables when I'm going to rebuilt the thing next year 

[ducatigirl100]

Not sure if it is the same problem as the earlier monsters, but mine wouldn't start well when it was cold until I upgraded the starter wires.  I don't see one for an S4R on this site, but I put these on my m900 and the difference was night and day.

http://www.powerlet.com/product/ducati-starter-rewire-kit-1999-900-750-monster/298

Would it work on a 1995 monster 900cc

[Nomad]

Would it work on a 1995 monster 900cc

Yep, mines a '96 M900, i had to bend the end of one of the cables to get it to work, but I have an aftermarket battery

[ducatigirl100]

Tank's   NOMAD I'm putting it on my Visa card   

[Twizted]

My Monster 1000 is exactly the same. Doesn't like anything below 40. It is much better now I have the PC3 on it but it is still a little reluctant. Anything above that temp it will start right up. I just though it was because it was Italian and temperamental. just one of the personality traits I love/hate on this bike.

[ducatigirl100]

I've just receive My "Rewire kit" 

But I didn't have a circuit scheme  so I'm left guessing where the wire actually go ??  



So I'm guessing from the left ;

the black one replace the negative from the battery
the one in the middle whit the red on it replace the positive from the battery
the third one ( on the right ) goes from the battery to the starter relay

?? 

[Nomad]

hooboy, has been a while since I did this, but I will try to remember.

Yeah the one on the left is negative to negative, that's the easy part.

Look at this before you do it, I'm just remembering the best I can, but I might not be exactly right.

The long one on the right goes from your solenoid to the starter.  The red one plugs into the stock splitter and also goes to the positive terminal.  You will end up throwing out a chunk of the stock wire and have an open socket in that splitter.  That should be right...

[ducatigirl100]

tanks 

I'll check when I get my bike in 2 weeks  ...having the bike in front of me will probebly help   'cose now I'm just tring to remember how it was wired ...

I'll use my blonde deduction skill's   ...sould be ok 

[Nomad]

Here you go, this thread is what helped me when I did it.

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=21784.0