Battery question

Fotoguzzi · Jul 11, 2019

It was a perfect day to ride, 84F no humidity.. I filled with gas about 60 miles from home then the bike (2013 HS) was hesitant to start, sounded like a weak battery.. after a few tries it fired up and I rode straight home. When I got home I accessed the voltage on the dash, key on not running read 12.5 dipped to 12.4 with blinker on.. still hesitated to start. Is that voltage showing a weak battery on its way out? It's probably the original battery form 2013. With engine running it read in the 13+ voltage range.
Will this bike run with a bad battery or will I get stranded if I have to use it tomorrow?

Fotoguzzi · Jul 11, 2019

Ps,I just replaced the belts, did filter and oil Recently and yesterday had a dealer do the service bulletins, throttle and can filter. Miles 8,100..

N4teTheGreat · Jul 11, 2019

Your bike is in the range where the starter is a known weak link. I'm not familiar with voltages so I'll let someone else chime in, but hard starting when warm is kinda common for the stock starter.

Fotoguzzi · Jul 11, 2019

Yikes that's a hard pill to swallow. I read the whole starter thread and yep I have the painted bolt heads so it's not the denso starter. Not happy about the cost of ownership with a Ducati, still like the bike but it sure is expensive.

edgary · Jul 11, 2019

When it finally starts, does it die again or hesitate at all to idle smoothly?

Fotoguzzi · Jul 11, 2019

edgary said:
When it finally starts, does it die again or hesitate at all to idle smoothly?

I was trying to decide that.. rode 60 miles home and "maybe" it ran a little rougher in lower rpm but it could be my imagination?
Seems to idle fine and doesn't die when started.
After a couple hours cool down the starter fires right away without a hesitation once at least.. battery showed 12.4 after a long rest ..

When I turn on the key I hear a new sound I don't remember before kind of like a spinning up of something then it stops, this happens every time I turn the key on, noise comes from above rear tire so maybe in the battery compartment under seat.. it's not an alarming sound but more like something is priming but like I say I don't remember hearing it before, so was it quieter and I just didn't hear it.? Does the fuel pump prime and is it under seat?
Note, I had the CAN filter and throttle recalls done on Tuesday if that tells anything ... the clock time changed so battery was disconnected in the shop.

Last thing, if the starter fails can I bump start this bike or could that upset some electrics or anything?

appliance821 · Jul 11, 2019

If you're nervous get a jumper pack - they're cheap and nice insurance. I don't think you can bump start these bikes.

May be the battery -

May be that valves need adjusting.

If it just started to happen after belt replacement - might be something related to that. Though the battery is getting long in tooth.

Do you start in neutral? That would take a lot of stress off the system.

appliance821 · Jul 11, 2019

..and yes - the fuel pump is sort of under the seat - it's in the part of the gas tank that extends under the seat.

mentalist · Jul 11, 2019

The age of the bike and the little use its had, would suggest that the battery needs replacing now anyway, Also a free mod is to clean and solder the starter wiring connectors, this will decrease the resistance in the wiring circuit. Clean the earths too.
I have the so called bad starter, my bike is a 2013 with 25000miles and starts fine.

DenDen · Jul 12, 2019

Mentalist, where are these connectors that need to be soldered? I'l go after that this weekend.
Also, [email protected] has the OEM Desno strarter in stock for just $150. I might get one to have on the shelf.
Mine starts better with the new belts installed, as they were stretched way under low frequency and I probably could use a valve adjustment, but that can wait for the 18K service. Still occasional start issue, and stall on blip. The flapper drive gets disconnected tomorrow morning.

mentalist · Jul 12, 2019

The connectors are on the cables connected to the starter motor.
Doubt very much that the valves will need re-shimming at 8000miles, most are still in tolerance at 18000 miles.
Have the spark plugs been changed? these should be done every 9k
That and a new battery, see how you get on from there.

gatdammit · Jul 14, 2019

It does sound a lot like my dying starter. You can search for my posts and starter. Mine was only difficult on cold starts. The starter leads are under the forward header on the very bottom of the block. They can get nasty as they are face first into road grime.

I'd recommend a basic tune up: plugs, filters (have to pull tank to get to top plug anyway), clean up that starter lead, maybe invest in a Lithium battery - crazy weight savings. There's a good thread about upgrading the ground/ earth lead.

Oh, 12.5 cold is decent voltage for the battery. Should see around 14 when it's running.

Battery question

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