Strange starting issue. Scam/Himalayan.

[Grayson Bellingham]

Every half a dozen or so times I start the bike something strange happens:

I press the starter button and it's like I have a dead battery and not just that, pressing the starter button resets the in dash clock to 12:00am (but not the tripper) like it would if I disconnected the battery.
I press the starter button a second time and everything will work fine like there was never any issue?
Any ideas?

 

[Geezer]

Every half a dozen or so times I start the bike something strange happens:

I press the starter button and it's like I have a dead battery and not just that, pressing the starter button resets the in dash clock to 12:00am (but not the tripper) like it would if I disconnected the battery.
I press the starter button a second time and everything will work fine like there was never any issue?
Any ideas?

Duff battery, loose battery terminal connection

 

[Alan F.]

I agree, clean/tight battery connections work best. Dirty/loose can cause intermittent no-start and a, world of other intermittent issues.

 

[2LZ]

Yep, first thing I did when I got my Scram home was redo the battery connections and applied dielectric grease to them, as well. I never trust the dealer when it comes to uncrate/assembly. Mine could have been the 20th bike assembled that day. Ya never know.....

 

[dabs]

Otherwise check the cables into ignition, been known to rub.

 

[Grayson Bellingham]

I was suspecting a short in the starter assembly

 

[Alan F.]

I was suspecting a short in the starter assembly

Yes, there could be some dust accumulation from initial carbon brush wear. It might be worth removing the starter and popping the end cap to blow/vacuum any dust out.

 

[Roy Gavin]

Yep, first thing I did when I got my Scram home was redo the battery connections and applied dielectric grease to them, as well. I never trust the dealer when it comes to uncrate/assembly. Mine could have been the 20th bike assembled that day. Ya never know.....

Some pros like to use serrated -sun- washers too.
On my 2017 bike the stock strap did not seem to hold the battery firmly, and the leads were forever slackening,
A bit packing and serrated washers helped but they still seem to slacken more than any other bike I have ever had!

 

[McQueen216]

This is the bane of my existence. I probably need to do something about this.

 

[2LZ]

Some pros like to use serrated -sun- washers too.
On my 2017 bike the stock strap did not seem to hold the battery firmly, and the leads were forever slackening,
A bit packing and serrated washers helped but they still seem to slacken more than any other bike I have ever had!

Our Victory's had to be checked every few months. They seemed to move more than most we've had. I'll keep an eye on my Scram as time passes also.
Another thing, our dealer adds a trickle charger lead to every bike they sell. I like having them there for the snowy Winters here, but it's also one more thing to wiggle loose.

 

[McQueen216]

LOL - after a good power wash last week, I looked down and there were two trickle charger leads. I was wildly confused - because I had installed one… but low and behold, I guess the dealer had too. No idea where that thing had been tucked.

 

[_yasu]

Every half a dozen or so times I start the bike something strange happens:

I press the starter button and it's like I have a dead battery and not just that, pressing the starter button resets the in dash clock to 12:00am (but not the tripper) like it would if I disconnected the battery.
I press the starter button a second time and everything will work fine like there was never any issue?
Any ideas?

I experienced same symptom you mentioned above. I'll check starter motor as Alan F. posted.

 

[brotherpaul]

Small update. I had the same issue when the bike was 2months old. At the same time the clock indeed was reset. I swapped the batter to a NOCO lithium, never has it happened again.

 

[damianls]

At the first time, the dealership told me that if the clock was reset it was a problem with the wiring that came from the tank, which was very tight, I would have to disassemble it a little and tidy up the cables, which I understand were under the tank. It sounds logical to be the one with 12 Volts without ignition.