JustJoe
VIP Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2023
- Messages
- 22
- Age
- 39
- Location
- Connecticut
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2008 Yamaha Nytro FX
2008 Nytro FX RTX currently with EarthX ETZ14C battery which was freshly charged about 30 days ago. I recently, about 10 days ago, put it in the sled and it's been stored outside in my trailer since, not on a charger. I went to start it yesterday in ~14*F temps and after priming the fuel pump 3x the starter only cranked once or twice before the console went black and it stopped cranking. It took multiple attempts to start the snowmobile. Today I called EarthX, tested the battery at 13.3v and it still took 5 cranking attempts (ranging from a single crank to multiple cranks sounding normal) to start the sled. They asked I hold the key until the cranking stopped which concerns me (I don't want to damage the starter). EarthX is warranting the battery.
I bring this up because I had an issue with a Yuasa YTX20HL-BS which was new last year that was chalked up to a bad cell. I got the battery on 2/22/24 because my battery which was from 2023 was never charged over the summer and died. The battery was fully charged by the dealer yet needed a jump box the first weekend. Fast forward to this december after intermittent charging during the summer and it showed a float voltage of 12.6. When cranking would show 12.4, 12.4, 6.x... (3 cranks) then flat and then 12.4ish when the key was released. Sled wouldn't start even with a jump box. Bench testing was fine but Yuasa agreed to replace the battery due to the behavior after another YTX20L in a SkiDoo was able to start the sled without issues.
It seems I have a string of bad batteries, or a sled that is hard to start - with the exception of my SkiDoo Yuasa battery. Historically, when I first bought the sled with the Yuasa AGM, I'd cycle the key 3x before a cold start and then crank er up. Now it's a bit of a song and dance (bad AGM and unhappy cold LiFePo4) but once she's running she happily restarts. Any suggestions or thoughts? I really don't want to be 'that guy' pulling a jump box out after dinner. I'm debating having my replacement AGM on the shelf charged and ready to go.
EDIT: Last question - How can I determine if my starter is drawing more than expected? Clamp meter?
I bring this up because I had an issue with a Yuasa YTX20HL-BS which was new last year that was chalked up to a bad cell. I got the battery on 2/22/24 because my battery which was from 2023 was never charged over the summer and died. The battery was fully charged by the dealer yet needed a jump box the first weekend. Fast forward to this december after intermittent charging during the summer and it showed a float voltage of 12.6. When cranking would show 12.4, 12.4, 6.x... (3 cranks) then flat and then 12.4ish when the key was released. Sled wouldn't start even with a jump box. Bench testing was fine but Yuasa agreed to replace the battery due to the behavior after another YTX20L in a SkiDoo was able to start the sled without issues.
It seems I have a string of bad batteries, or a sled that is hard to start - with the exception of my SkiDoo Yuasa battery. Historically, when I first bought the sled with the Yuasa AGM, I'd cycle the key 3x before a cold start and then crank er up. Now it's a bit of a song and dance (bad AGM and unhappy cold LiFePo4) but once she's running she happily restarts. Any suggestions or thoughts? I really don't want to be 'that guy' pulling a jump box out after dinner. I'm debating having my replacement AGM on the shelf charged and ready to go.
EDIT: Last question - How can I determine if my starter is drawing more than expected? Clamp meter?
Last edited:
Mooseman
I'm not all knowing. Post your question in forum.
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2009
- Messages
- 3,978
- Location
- Greely, Ontario
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- '07 Venture MP (gone)
'07 Phazer FX (gone)
'09 Phazer GT (gone)
'10 RS Venture GT (My current ride)
'10 Nytro FX (son's)
- LOCATION
- Greely, ON Canada
Lithium batteries don't do well in the cold, no matter if it's made for sleds or not. Found this at HCS that basically mirrors what you're experiencing:
www.hardcoresledder.com
Also heard that Yuasa battery quality has tanked lately. I replaced mine last year with a Yuasa and did not put it on a charger over the summer while it was still in the sled. It needed a charge and it started the sled. However, due to the lack of snow, I only started it on the trailer once and may have gone bad anyway. If I had to replace it, I'd start searching for another brand, maybe even Amazon. I would not go to lithium.
Earth X ETZ14C Battery
Also heard that Yuasa battery quality has tanked lately. I replaced mine last year with a Yuasa and did not put it on a charger over the summer while it was still in the sled. It needed a charge and it started the sled. However, due to the lack of snow, I only started it on the trailer once and may have gone bad anyway. If I had to replace it, I'd start searching for another brand, maybe even Amazon. I would not go to lithium.
