Comments on: Harley Davidson Motorcycle won't start.?

By: vtwin_doc

vtwin_doc — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:27:37 +0000

What TYPE of clicking sound?….a real light single click or "tick"…or…a LOUD rapid click…or…one fairly loud click????

Is the GREEN wire to the solenoid plugged into the starter???..there is one normal wire (GREEN) with a flat spade terminal the plugs into the starter solenoid…make sure it is plugged in.

What TYPE of battery?…a Harley battery or one you had to fill?…did you actually check battery voltage with a meter?…fully charged should read 12.5-13.2 volts. If you had to fill it, did you fill it, let it sit for an hour and charge it for for about 18 hours at 1-2 amps? If it was an HD battery, did you charge it, if so, what TYPE of charger….HD batteries come pre-charged and standar trickle chargers WILL…KILL it. HD uses a new style AGM technology that REQUIRES a Battery Tender type charger, but do not require pre-charging before installing.

The clicking sound…
A light "tick" is a bad starter relay.
A LOUD rapid click is low battery voltage.
A single fairly loud click is bad solenoid.

By: Biker for life

Biker for life — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:27:37 +0000

Is the battery fully charged?

By: mycoldfeet

mycoldfeet — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:27:37 +0000

Clean your battery posts and connectons, and tighten the hot cable to the starter, then find the neg cable from battery to frame, take it loose and sand under the cable to bare metal and reinstall it, you have a connection problem, this should fix it.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:27:37 +0000

My Sportster was forever shaking the positive lead loose at the battery. Get a star washer with external teeth and refasten your battery cable leads.

By: Firecracker .

Firecracker . — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:27:37 +0000

Brand new batteries are rarely fully charged.
Check the voltage before and during starting.
Then, come back for more.

I’m sure the Doc would like to help you out.

By: vulcvoy

vulcvoy — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:27:37 +0000

Unless you charged it before putting it on, your battery is not charged, just new. After that check that the cables are connected tight. Then if both are OK check the starter solenoid. What you are describing yells no electrical charge to create spark.
If you can get to a hill, or have a strong friend, then try push starting it.
Good luck and ride safe.

By: SVOMAN

SVOMAN — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:27:37 +0000

it could be hydro locked with gasoline, try pulling the spark plugs and see if it will turn over, like someone already said, get the battery charged before you install it…

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:27:37 +0000

Charge the battery, clean and tighten battery cables
still dead ?
Starter solenoid may be bad. Jump across the solenoid terminals should engage starter.
BE SURE YOU ARE IN NEUTRAL WHEN YOU TRY THIS !!!!