[Mewilliams62]

I have a 2022 Cross Roads LE that struggles to start. I keep a trickle charger on my battery, the battery tests good. This summer, occasionally, it would act as if the battery was weak or it was hitting a bad spot on the starter but it would start. Now, it just acts as if the battery is weak. It tries to start but after a couple of attempts, the starter doesn't even turn over.

 

[53canuck]

Sure sounds like the battery. How are you testing the battery that it tests good? Doesn't sound like it is. Trickle chargers can't properly charge up a battery that is too far gone. They just don't have the power.

If you can't determine that for sure then get a local auto parts store to test it properly. Some can also give it a good charge to get it back up to best operating condition.

You also need to determine if there's a reason it's down on charge. A two year old battery should be in better condition. Besides a fault in the bikes charging system, your riding habits could also be the cause of a low battery.

More investigation and especially some proper test results are needed before some of the more knowledgeable here can offer you some assistance.

PS. If you're William and wildbill with the same problem on the other forum then there's already some good suggestions there too.

 

[NAB]

Victory went out of production in 2017 and Cross Roads went out of production before that. So you don't have a 2022 Cross Roads.

 

[Mewilliams62]

Sure sounds like the battery. How are you testing the battery that it tests good? Doesn't sound like it is. Trickle chargers can't properly charge up a battery that is too far gone. They just don't have the power.

If you can't determine that for sure then get a local auto parts store to test it properly. Some can also give it a good charge to get it back up to best operating condition.

You also need to determine if there's a reason it's down on charge. A two year old battery should be in better condition. Besides a fault in the bikes charging system, your riding habits could also be the cause of a low battery.

More investigation and especially some proper test results are needed before some of the more knowledgeable here can offer you some assistance.

PS. If you're William and wildbill with the same problem on the other forum then there's already some good suggestions there too.

Thanks for the response. I put my regular charger on to make sure it was fully charged. I had my local NAPA store test the battery. The battery is supposed to have 310 cold cranking amps when tested it was at 290. Is that low enough to cause the issue? If input my regular charger on it (not a trickle charger) I was able to start it .

 

[Vinish]

290 should be fine but the NAPA test device should render a verdict of good or failed for the battery.

 

[53canuck]

So does it start with a confirmed properly charged battery? If it does or it doesn't means two different trouble shooting routes. Too much to go into without knowing that first.

Also, where are you? It could make a difference in who you can be referred to,.

 

[Mewilliams62]

290 should be fine but the NAPA test device should render a verdict of good or failed for the battery.

The display showed good.

290 should be fine but the NAPA test device should render a verdict of good or failed for the battery.

NAB, it is a 2012. I fat fingered the year.

So does it start with a confirmed properly charged battery? If it does or it doesn't means two different trouble shooting routes. Too much to go into without knowing that first.

Also, where are you? It could make a difference in who you can be referred to,.

It will start with a fully charged battery 2 or 3 times. However, if it doesn't start on the first few attempts, it acts as if the battery is weak. The starter turns very slowly. No clicking or no strange noise from the starter. I am near Fort Wayne, Indiana. I usually go to Osborn's in Fort Wayne for things I cannot do myself.

 

[Vinish]

Sounds like it could be a charging problem. The service manual gives instruction on how to test the regulator/rectifier and the rest of the charging system.

 

[Joe_]

Some Vic starters do take on water. They pull it in if the starter gets submerged by a wave while crossing a flooded street as an instance. Vic starters are unvented and the rapid cooling of the housing pulls water inside sometimes. Not the best design but it generally works, except when it doesn’t.

Once water gets in there is no way for it to get out. They begin to rust inside which reduces the clearance of the armature and it will begin to drag. It doesn’t help the brush springs one bit either.

The way to tell is pull the starter and remove one of the through bolts that hold it together.
If it is covered with rust, you have found the source of your problem. Another way would be to do a cranking amp test ( should draw less than 130 Amps while cranking, see manual) . If you have the equipment necessary (DC amprobe)

If you take the starter apart you maybe able to resurrect it with some effort.
Then use some phosphoric acid (Ospho) and a very thin coat of paint to keep the rust from reoccurring on the armature iron.
It will or might work for a couple of seasons even without paint, depending on how badly damaged it is.

From experience if it is rusty inside your better off buying another one that doesn‘t have the same issue (pull one of the through bolts to see) from a motorcycle wrecker or a brand new one from the aftermarket online. The one I fixed for the wife lasted a couple of years but now needs attention again. I just cleaned it up and neglected to prepare it with Ospho and paint the armature iron. My bad. It’s on my honey do list at present. I have another on the shelf and I’ll probably fix that one again if possible as a spare.


If I was paying someone else to do the work , I’d put in a different starter.

 

[nomadsmg]

The display showed good.

NAB, it is a 2012. I fat fingered the year.

It will start with a fully charged battery 2 or 3 times. However, if it doesn't start on the first few attempts, it acts as if the battery is weak. The starter turns very slowly. No clicking or no strange noise from the starter. I am near Fort Wayne, Indiana. I usually go to Osborn's in Fort Wayne for things I cannot do myself.

What you are describing seems to be possibly a high amp load problem that gets worse as the connection heats up and gets less conductive. Could be the starter itself, but also is commonly a easier to fix cable or connection issues. Disconnect each battery wire connection, not just at the battery, but the other end of your ground, starter, thermal breaker (little box probably mounted alongside battery box) checking they are clean, corrosion free and resecured tightly. If your starter battery connection had oil on it, remember oil is a conductor and clean it.

You might want to even Google how to do a voltage drop test to check that the cables are still good, only a slight chance the cable is worn out, but still a slim possibility and educational.

If all that tests good, with the bike in NEUTRAL, run a hot lead cable direct to that same same starter positive post and hit the starter button. If she spins like crazy, starter is good and it's somewhere in the wire between. If it deasn't kick over briskly or deasn't do it briskly after two or three times, most likely the starter.

If it's the starter, before you have to remove the whole exhaust, search these boards for tips. I believe your bike is the same as my Cross Country and a big short cut / less stressful tip is to trim the right side of the battery box first so you can only remove the front pipe.

Good luck

 

[nomadsmg]

 

[Mewilliams62]

Thought I'd give you all an update. As it turns out, I had 2 issues. First was a bad battery second was bad starter. I replaced the battery and rebuilt the starter. Life is good!