there was a thread that i started in regards to my engine dieing when i have the clutch in:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softail-models/250254-engine-dies-when-clutch-is-in.html

my assumptions were possible bad gas which lead me to be wrong. i haven't been able to get it into the HD dealer to see what's wrong with it because i've been traveling a lot with it in EU and so i chose to ignore it. now i'm paying for it.

symptoms:
1. when start button is push in, it clicks
2. battery is fine because light come on and the security alarm is blinking
3. engine doesn't turn over at all any more - just clicks
- last few times it would have a hard time turning over

the bike had the 10K mile check recently by a Spanish HD Service Center and it never ran like it use to. the engine sometimes die when i have the clutch in any gear, and now it doesn't even start.

help...? could this be a spark plug issue?

thanks

stuck in italy

 

Nope, not a spark plug problem. It sounds like battery problem. The lights may light but it still not have enough power to crank the engine.

 

Clean the battery terminals, charge the battery or take it in and have it tested an an hd shop to see if it's still good. even if the security and the lights come on there still may not be enough juice to get it started.

sounds like you have dirty terminal connections to me. the might look clean, but you gotta unbolt the battery connections, use sandpaper on the battery and the cables both, then put some dielectric gel on it all and bolt it back together. might not be it, just my .02 but it sure sounds like a dirty connection.

do you live near saltwater?

 

+1 on the battery connection.
There is a good chance that during your last service your battery cable was removed and was not tightened properly when reconnected. This would have allowed some corrosion to gradually build up. Disconnect the cables clean the connections and tighten them. Then charge the battery if necessary.
A large percentage of vehicle breakdowns can be directly connected to the last person that worked on them.
Tom

 

Battery!! Clean, charge and ride!!

 

Take your battery in.. get a new one...
you can have 12/13 volts.. but not enough amps to crank..
bet $ 100.00 it's the battery.

 

+ a really big number on the battery.

The starter takes alot more juice that dash lights do.

"A buon intenditor poche parole."

 

Yeah, I agree with bad connection. Have it load tested while you are at it.

 

Plus check the ground.

 

Could be the stator. I had the same thing on my 06 Heritage softail. The stator aparently is ulitmatley responsible for your electric/spark (or something like that)
I know that when they replaced mine the clicking was gone and it fired right up.

Ray