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Battery/Starting slow spin - is this common & why doesn't it start like a normal motorcycle?

Metalman

New member
I recently purchased a used, 2023 Spyder RTL. When the previous owner started the engine for me, I thought there was a slight delay before the starter came up to speed. So before I bought the trike, I did some reading on this forum and saw that the original battery (Haijiu), was prone to problems. But further reading told me that many have experienced a situation where they didn’t think the engine started quickly enough, but apparently some owners continued with the same battery for quite some time without problems. After I bought the bike, I started it a couple times in fairly quick succession, and one time when I pressed the start button, the engine didn’t start, so I released the start button and pressed it again. Then it started. So, I decided rather than to take any chances, I’d purchased a new battery.

After reading more about batteries on the forum, I decided to buy one from Batteries +. I purchased the Xtreme with 310 CCA. Once I install the new battery, which is easier said than done, the bike turned over quicker, but not the way I would’ve expected. I tested the Haijiu battery and the voltage was good, the battery health was 88 percent, and the CCA we were very close to 300. So, I’m not sure that I actually needed a battery, but I feel better about having a new one tucked away deep in that hidy hole.

If the initial slow spin of the starter is common, does anyone know the reason why it doesn’t start like a normal motorcycle with a short stroke engine.
 
The battery we recommend is the Yuasa YTX24HL-BS with 22.1AH and 350 CCA. We like the BS version ("Bottle Supplied"). It's a bit more hassle to energize, but you know you're getting a brand new battery that way.

A load test on a fully charged battery is the only way to know for sure what your true status is. Though having less than 350 CCA may give you a bit slower crank speed, you should be able to get by with it.
 
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I'm surprised the manufacturer didn't use a larger battery. After all the OEM battery is 300 CCA, which is the capacity of the one that I have in my zero turn mower.
 
I'm surprised the manufacturer didn't use a larger battery. After all the OEM battery is 300 CCA, which is the capacity of the one that I have in my zero turn mower.
Actually the OEM spec is a 350 CCA battery, the Haijiu was 300 CCA so that is why so many failed within the first couple of months and if you replace the failed battery with another 300 CCA battery you can expect similar results. The battery should meet the spec as shown in post #2. IMO. During the start procedure you turn on the ignition, the fuel pump, the injectors, several nanny systems, and only then activate the starter; this results in a large voltage drop; which if the battery capacity is too low to handle, will activate the VSS flag. A 350 CCA battery properly charged eliminates the flag. :unsure:
 
I hope your battery lasts for you. In my thinking, which isn't that great, using a lower cranking amp battery than that the Spyders used to come with (350cca) 'til BRP in their wisdom decided to not put them in Spyders anymore and went with the 300 cca batteries that don't turn them over as good or last very long, I would think the heavy power draw that the Spyder uses to start would mean a lower CCA battery wont last as long as a battery with the higher CCA rating that used to be in Spyders - they did seem to last a good length of time. Just me rambling on. I see some one else posted right before with a better explanation.
 
Interesting information. When the VSS flag was mentioned, I remembered seeing it when the previous owner started the bike for me. He said it wasn't a problem, but apparently it was due to a problem.
 
I'm happy with the noco lithium battery I bought from Lamonster, and it recently just passed the high heat test, drove to Raleigh from Frederick and back in temps between 101 and 103 and had no issues with starting. It's absolutely amazing how much lighter it is than the the old battery and it starts so much easier.
 
I had a new 2020 RTL and the starter seemed slower than what I was expecting, but I did not have any issues. Moving forward, I traded it for a new 2022 F3L and ditto with the starter. After several years, I began getting VSS alerts after start-up, so I replaced the stock battery with a Battery plus battery, which did turn the starter quicker. Now I have a new 2024 F3L and the stock battery turns the engine over like the Battery plus battery did.
 
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