Anyone using HICAP starter circuit wiring?

philthymike · Mar 18, 2018

I've used this wiring in an old truck from 1967 with great results for cold weather starting. Serious improvement, went from a truck that would wear the battery down until it couldn't crank half the time to starting on the first try in all weather.

I'm wondering if it's worth doing on a motorcycle. And there's even a pre made kit available for the HS here.
Ducati starter upgrade - starting upgrade for Ducati motorcycles

With the truck I mentioned I sourced all the OFC high strand rope wire and copper terminals from some ghetto auto sound shop. It's used for high power amps in those places.

I've had a lot of trouble getting my HS started this winter. She's had to be put on the charger several times after cranking her over enough to drain the battery without ever starting. I actually spent more time riding my little Suzuki S40 because it started 1st time on days so cold the HS wouldn't even try to crank.
I replaced the battery on the HS yesterday. The one that was in there took a beating over the past few months.

Anyways if anybody has tried this HICAP wiring upgrade out on their bikes I'd be interested in learning how it worked out.

Thanks

appliance821 · Mar 18, 2018

Hard to answer because this may not be the problem. I had to replace my battery after 2.5 years - I think cranking a big high compression twin in cold weather just takes a toll.

If you're riding a lot in the city with a lot of electrics on, it might be draining the battery because of low revs and time spent idling in traffic. plus short runs and multiple starts. I usually keep my electrics unplugged in the city.

Also - what oil do you use in the winter. Something like a 10w - xxx might take off some of the strain.

Just trying to see what else could be playing a role here.

I do ride in the cold up here in Beantown - sadly the snow, flooding and salt have forced me take the bike off the road. My last start - to get it in my studio - was at 12 degrees F - it did it, but it didn't like it.

kuksul08 · Mar 18, 2018

I've never had an issue with mine. I cleaned all the stock terminals and applied some dielectric grease to keep them from corroding when I was first chasing down my starter motor issue.

Stock battery still seems to be holding up as well. I keep it on a tender from time to time, and its going on 5 years. I usually see ~10 years from a Yuasa lead-acid battery.

mentalist · Mar 18, 2018

Like Kuksul, I cleaned and applied electrical grease to my terminals, prior to that I also heated up and soldered the wire to the terminals instead of just crimped connections, this makes a big difference to lower the resistance.
Original battery 2013 bike with 20k miles. Left without battery tender for three - four weeks at a time without using. Due to working offshore, only time my bike didn't start was because I'd left my sat nav on and it drained the bike over the four weeks.

Bones302 · Mar 19, 2018

I used a hicap wiring kit on my old '996. those were notoriously hard to start.. made a big difference. However, I can't say I've seen cranking issues with my Hstrada. I would replace battery first.

philthymike · Mar 19, 2018

Just put a new battery in on Saturday and she still takes 4 tries in 35-45 degrees.

Very interesting to know that about your 996 Bones. Thanks for that info!

gatdammit · Mar 20, 2018

My history:
-Stock Battery: For first 2 years with near daily use, bike turned over first cycle. Around year 3, started taking 2-3 cycles when cold, little quicker when warm. Always garage kept. This is when I learned their was a better starter option offered.
-Shorai: Installed this around year 4. Still took couple cycles from cold. I learned that Lithium batteries need to "warm up" from cold to provide good starting amps. My bike is in a shelter but gets cold soaked in 30-40F temps overnight. It will not start if I twist the key and hit the button from cold. Once I run the highbeam for 5-10 mins, it slowly kicks to life. Starts 2-3 cycles for rest of ride day, better if warmer out.. I feel this is more the battery than the starter.

zibbit u2 · Apr 27, 2018

Just before my warranty expired last season I got the starter replaced to the Denso unit. Now, less than 5000 km later, the bike struggles to start when it's cold. Once the bike is warm, it starts VERY fast. There's zero corrosion on any of the terminals, relay functions correctly, everything is tight, my Shorai battery is holding steady at ~13.8 Vdc when the bike is cold and I even balance charged it just to make sure.

Today in an attempt to fix this issue I placed an order for the MotoLectrics HICAP kit, hopefully it'll arrive in the next week or so. When I've got the bike apart I'll try to document the install process and post them here. Hopefully it makes a difference. I just wish the kit wasn't so expensive.

philthymike · Apr 28, 2018

zibbit u2 said:
Just before my warranty expired last season I got the starter replaced to the Denso unit. Now, less than 5000 km later, the bike struggles to start when it's cold. Once the bike is warm, it starts VERY fast. There's zero corrosion on any of the terminals, relay functions correctly, everything is tight, my Shorai battery is holding steady at ~13.8 Vdc when the bike is cold and I even balance charged it just to make sure.

Today in an attempt to fix this issue I placed an order for the MotoLectrics HICAP kit, hopefully it'll arrive in the next week or so. When I've got the bike apart I'll try to document the install process and post them here. Hopefully it makes a difference. I just wish the kit wasn't so expensive.

Hi zibbit good luck with it. I'm very interested to know how it works for you. Since it's been warmer lately and starting is easier I haven't been as concerned so this project fell off my radar while I focused on more immediate concerns.

Their kit is pricey but it does save you all of the work of sourcing the materials and taking the necessary measurements to DIY it.

monocog007 · Apr 28, 2018

DIY-ing it is fairly easy though, and will save you a lot of money. I made my own 4 gauge cables for my hyper, using https://www.genuinedealz.com/ . They sell marine grade wiring.

Here's everything I needed to make mine as well as price.

mattbkk · Nov 8, 2018

Zibbit, I have a HS 2014 and the same problem with starting, even though I live in a tropical climate (Thailand). I'd be really grateful for any info you can share on the installation process. Perhaps the installation instructions from the manufacturer if you have, or otherwise any tips you can pass on. I'm thinking either the HCAP kit, or better (cheaper!), the home made version recommended by monocog.

gatdammit · Nov 9, 2018

mattbkk, 1st step with starting trouble is replacing the junk stock starter with a Denso unit. I'd also check the starter lead. Mine was pretty corroded because it sits forward and low under front cylinder.

Araitim · Nov 9, 2018

monocog007 said:
DIY-ing it is fairly easy though, and will save you a lot of money. I made my own 4 gauge cables for my hyper, using https://www.genuinedealz.com/ . They sell marine grade wiring.

Here's everything I needed to make mine as well as price.

I 2nd this. Grab some higher quality 8 or 4aug pure copper high strand(alot of tiny 99% pure copper wire easily found at any car stereo shop) along with some decent ends. Then cut n crimp the wires and ends. As an added bit you can use heat shrink at the connector to make it look clean and keep crap out. If you dont have a fancy crimper the stereo shop will usually do it for you if you ask OR stop by harbor freight and use one of theirs while shopping. The mentality in the 12v car audio world is that the more strands within the same size guage will transfer more energy easier. Back in the day (late 90s) I was pretty heavy into car audio and we all sought out the high strand count pure copper wires to run multiple alternators and batteries. I did the ground this way on my hyper. I havnt gotten around to the posative yet but I intend on doing so.

mentalist · Nov 9, 2018

I soldered all the original starter cable connections, cleaned and reconnected, no problem starting with original battery and starter. 13 plate and 24k miles

Araitim · Nov 9, 2018

mentalist said:
I soldered all the original starter cable connections, cleaned and reconnected, no problem starting with original battery and starter. 13 plate and 24k miles

Are you using a torch, high heat heat gun or a soldering iron? Every time I tried a torch on the high strand wires I tend to melt the strands. I have a few irons but my largest isnt big enough to heat 4aug to flow solder.

mentalist · Nov 9, 2018

Butane torch

mattbkk · Nov 12, 2018

Thanks to all for the guidance, especially Gatdammit. Just to update: I removed the cable to the starter motor and went over both the starter motor connection and the end of the cable with baking soda/water paste, using a toothbrush. Rinsed, dried, reassembled and wow, what an improvement. Still not perfect but much better and didn't cost anything at all

.

Anyone using HICAP starter circuit wiring?

philthymike

appliance821

kuksul08

mentalist

Bones302

philthymike

gatdammit

zibbit u2

philthymike

monocog007

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