SHORAI Battery starts 961 @ 42 Deg. F

TonyA

TonyA

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Hello all , Just to let you know that my Shorai starts my bike today . The garage thermometer reads 42 degrees and my cell phone says 40 degrees right now. Is that 4.5 Deg C ? I remember last year at 34 Degrees F it did not start . The starter spins fast but will not fire up. And then I went out again at 50 F and it started . I will test this again this winter. Britfan said magic number is 40 degrees F. above 40 its good and below 40 not. So fAR looking like fact.
 
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Tony,

I have read accounts on the web were Shorai battery users say that in cold weather you should turn the ignition on and leave the headlight on for 60 seconds before trying to start the engine.
Apparently the current flow to the headlight heads the shorai battery to point were the output becomes sufficient to crank and start the bike.
 
BritTwit said:
Tony,

I have read accounts on the web were Shorai battery users say that in cold weather you should turn the ignition on and leave the headlight on for 60 seconds before trying to start the engine.
Apparently the current flow to the headlight heads the shorai battery to point were the output becomes sufficient to crank and start the bike.
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This has been reported by many lithium iron battery owners, though often it is suggested to turn on the ignition, leave it on for many seconds (30-60), and then turn the ignition off for a few seconds before turning it back on to start the engine. I do this as a matter of habit with my Shorai batteries.
 
I did that , and to restate I will try again this winter. But at 42 deg F , I am satisfied . I am NOT driving in sub 40 degrees F . I am just trying to establish the number that was stated . this is 40 DEG F... This post will not end until I finish the test , and believe me this winter is going to be COLD .
 
I rode my Naked today (46 degrees F) and it started perfectly normal like it was 90 outside.
I’ll be turning on my furnace this week as we’re supposed to get 35 degree F nights.
 
TonyA said:
Hello all , Just to let you know that my Shorai starts my bike today . The garage thermometer reads 42 degrees and my cell phone says 40 degrees right now. Is that 4.5 Deg C ? I remember last year at 34 Degrees F it did not start . The starter spins fast but will not fire up. And then I went out again at 50 F and it started . I will test this again this winter. Britfan said magic number is 40 degrees F. above 40 its good and below 40 not. So fAR looking like fact.
Click to expand...
I said that only through research, Tony. Not experience. I didn't purchase the Shorai. If 40 is the magic number, I'll go for it next go around. I can live with that. That procedure of turning on accessories actually works with all batteries in the winter. Cars too in subfreezing temps. Yea. I'm pretty much done if it goes below 40. I thought you were a 50 and up guy. Glad to see you dipping down a bit. :)
 
Hello , This morning temperature outside 37 Deg. F , garage thermometer reads 37 Deg F . 961 starts on 1 push of starter but needs some throttle to keep running . Second start idles at 1300 rpm. To be continued .
 
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This morning Shorai starts 961 . Cell phone says 32 Deg. F , Garage thermometer reads 35 Deg. F . 961 starts 1 push of starter with some throttle , then settles into 1350 RPM idle. When will this fail ? We will see !
 
TonyA said:
This morning Shorai starts 961 . Cell phone says 32 Deg. F , Garage thermometer reads 35 Deg. F . 961 starts 1 push of starter with some throttle , then settles into 1350 RPM idle. When will this fail ? We will see !
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Did you need to wait any amount of time for the battery to warm up?
 
I gave it 1 minute with the lights on and then off for 15 seconds . Then started it. I can't say whether or not this was necessary. Once the temps dropped below 39 deg. F I used the warm up method. Did you buy a Shorai ? My testing will stop when the temps reach freezing 32 Deg F/0 Deg C Any colder than this and I don't care if it starts. I may go down to 30 Deg F but no further.
 
TonyA said:
I gave it 1 minute with the lights on and then off for 15 seconds . Then started it. I can't say whether or not this was necessary. Once the temps dropped below 39 deg. F I used the warm up method.
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I did buy a Shorai for my 961, but had problems getting it charged the very first time so I pulled the tank off and replaced it with the stock battery. The Shorai went to my Triumph once I figured out how to get it to 100%. The Triumph is a bit sluggish to start for reasons common to that model, but the Shorai has never failed to turn it over. I have not tried to start it below 50° yet. But I might do that sometime this week as we'll finally see a drop in the morning temperature. Like yourself, I do not ride when it gets too far below 50°. My hands become unusable with the wind chill factor. :eek:
 
OK , This morning garage thermometer read 32 Deg. F , the cell phone said 29 Deg. F for my area . Shorai starts 961 no warm up. Pushed starter no throttle let crank for 5 seconds no start , while still cranking opened throttle then closed throttle and starts and idles at 1300 rpm. There will be one more test of the Shorai when it is a little colder say mid twentys F . Maybe no reason not to try a Shorai ?
 
That's some good news. I've read way too many complaints to want to take the plunge, but I'd consider it. Hell. I've lost more than 200 bucks in a clip in my day. Sucks, but not devastating. Thanks, Tony.
 
I only have a rough temperature to report - around 40-43°F. I did a little test with my Speed Triple which has been sitting uncharged for over a week. I attempted to start it up at 10 second intervals and even though It refused to turn over I could tell the battery was warming up because the pitch of the whining LED headlights rose higher each time. Finally on the 5th try (about 45 seconds later) the engine turned over as if it was a sunny summer day. Not very scientific, but I can say from experience that 3 failed attempts would have meant no riding that day.
 
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Couple questions...

1. Is LFX19A4 the Shorai battery best used for our 961's?

2. Do you HAVE to keep your Shorai battery on its battery charger? Or is it ok to leave the charger off the Shorai battery after you have charged the battery to 100% when you first get it?
 
Shorai LFX18A1-BS12 Lithium-Iron is the one I used , it was supposed to be the replacement for the stock yuasa . Check out the part number at the Shorai website and cross it there. I keep mine on a charger . The discharge rate is supposed to be lower than lead acid , but you are not supposed to let them get too discharged.
 
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Hello , This will be EOT (end of testing or end of thread ) Two days ago was my last Shorai 961 cold start test. I did not have the battery on Charger since then , 2 days without a maintainer charge. Today , Garage Thermometer reads 25 Deg. F , Cell phone says 25 deg. F for my area . First try bike cranks for 5 seconds no start . Open and close throttle key on but not cranking . Second push of starter fires up 1350 rpm idle settles to 1300 RPM . So there you go ! Shorai starts my 961 at 25 Deg. F (or -3.8 Deg. C ) .
 
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