Honda 1985 250es electric start problem!

[Nekhron09]

Ok, so i bought my 1985 250es recently and it came without a battery. So i bought a battery and installed it and i think i set everything up correctly and so i turned it over and realized soon after that, that the end of the starter was stripped and wasn't spinning the starter gears. So i ordered a new starter and installed it but now it doesnt seem to want to start when it is cold. It turns over a little bit and then the battery kinda cuts out a little bit and makes a ticking noise then turns over again and it doesn't really turn over well. So i kick it and warm it up and then shut it off and use the electric start and its turns over like mad and starts up no problem. Any suggestions to what the cold start problem could be?

[Woodsrider]

Did this only happen once, or is it something that's happening consistently time after time? Are you sure that you properly charged the new battery( proper first charge is very important)?

[Nekhron09]

Well I had just bought the machine and the owner said that the battery of his was dead so there was no electric start. So i figured after i bought it i would buy a new battery. I bought the battery and put it on a 2 amp charge for liek maybe an hour while i was messin around trying to figure out the easiest way to install the battery. After like an hour i installed it and tried the starter..but that didnt work the when the starter was stripped. So i replaced that and installed my new battery and it just turns over a little bit and misses..and somtimes makes kinda of a ticking noise. Kinda of like a push button starter on a grill..only faster. It starts great and turns over strong when the engine is warmed up. But cold starting is impossible. How should i of charged my new battery before installing it?

[Slingblade]

I would think a 2 amp, 1 hour charge would be fine for a new battery. Check your volts. I would check the cables and all connections, make sure you've got a good ground. Is the clicking coming from the starter or from a solenoid switch? Funny how it works when warm, wierd.

Edit: I was wrong, needs at least 8 hours on low amp charge, sorry.

[Thorpe]

At a 2 amp charge, the battery would probably need to stay on the charger for 9.5 hours (not positive, but this number sticks in my head...) I would clean all of your contacts all the way through out, especially at your starter solenoid, and grounds...

[3wheelsinPA]

At a 2 amp charge, the battery would probably need to stay on the charger for 9.5 hours (not positive, but this number sticks in my head...) I would clean all of your contacts all the way through out, especially at your starter solenoid, and grounds...

Number sounds about right, I think the last one I bought for me ES said 6 or 8 hours @ 2 amps. My 200ES battery was 5 hours @ 2 amps (smaller battery).

[Woodsrider]

A 1 hour charge at 2 amps is no where near enough for the initial charge of a new battery...I hope you didn't damage it. I would put that battery on the charger at 2 amps for 6 or 7 hours, and then try it again in your ES.

[Nekhron09]

Ok, thanks for the feedback guys. I have my battery on a 2 amp charge right now. The funny thing was that i tried to start it like 10 minutes ago and it would turn over very slow and weak. So i kicked started it and went in a circle and the machine only ran for maybe 30 seconds. So i shut it off and used the electric start again and it turned over like great and started right up. Also, could anyone know the easiest way to install new front bearings on my big red? They just went a few days ago and i ordered new ones but i have never changed bearings on a 3 wheeler before.