2013 FXDB Starting Issue
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 141
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From: Omaha, Nebraska
2013 FXDB Starting Issue
Hey guys,
Can you point me in the possible or probably causes of a no start issue I am having? The bike is bone stock with exception of slip-ons. Over the past 8 times I've went to start the bike, it has not started 3 times.
I turn the ignition on, wait for the fuel pump to cycle and the warning lights on the dash to go off, hit the "start" button and NOTHING. Not even a click. I've found each time, if I mess with the button/turn the ignition on/off, roll the bike slightly with the clutch in and out, then hit the starter button again, it starts. I have not had time to try and determine which of the above actually helped b/c each time I am not in a position to be able to sit there a mess with the bike. I just need it to start to get home/work, etc.
Once it turns over, it kicks right off.
It has 13k miles on her now. I've bought it last year with 2.5k on it. I have not had a lick of problems until this last weekend, then again today on my way to work and leaving work.
is there a known common issue with something in the starting system? The way it starts after rolling it around just enough with the clutch engaged to push on the motor makes me nervous that it is a starter.
I am not familiar with how the starter works on HD's. I know on metric bikes there is once way gear on the stator that starter (through a set of gears) drives. I wasn't sure if when I roll the bike backwards with the clutch engaged it turns the starter slightly off a dead spot?
Thanks in advance!
Matt
Can you point me in the possible or probably causes of a no start issue I am having? The bike is bone stock with exception of slip-ons. Over the past 8 times I've went to start the bike, it has not started 3 times.
I turn the ignition on, wait for the fuel pump to cycle and the warning lights on the dash to go off, hit the "start" button and NOTHING. Not even a click. I've found each time, if I mess with the button/turn the ignition on/off, roll the bike slightly with the clutch in and out, then hit the starter button again, it starts. I have not had time to try and determine which of the above actually helped b/c each time I am not in a position to be able to sit there a mess with the bike. I just need it to start to get home/work, etc.
Once it turns over, it kicks right off.
It has 13k miles on her now. I've bought it last year with 2.5k on it. I have not had a lick of problems until this last weekend, then again today on my way to work and leaving work.
is there a known common issue with something in the starting system? The way it starts after rolling it around just enough with the clutch engaged to push on the motor makes me nervous that it is a starter.
I am not familiar with how the starter works on HD's. I know on metric bikes there is once way gear on the stator that starter (through a set of gears) drives. I wasn't sure if when I roll the bike backwards with the clutch engaged it turns the starter slightly off a dead spot?
Thanks in advance!
Matt
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 666
Likes: 95
From: Berlin
Have you checked the battery connections are tight, also Check your connections. grounds can come loose from the engine. I would check Ground to engine, then battery terminals, then tap the starter with a rubber hammer or...what ever. then Id put it in gear and rock it back, put in neutral, then back in gear and rock it back wards...back to neutral....turn the key. If nothing, I would push it down the driveway and pop the clutch. If you can do that let it run. Take a volt meter to the battery, rev it up and see if voltage climbs.
This will check your stator and battery. If you replace the battery and have a bad staor you will waste money on batterys
This will check your stator and battery. If you replace the battery and have a bad staor you will waste money on batterys
Last edited by Smogbob; Jul 21, 2017 at 05:57 PM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, Nebraska
Have you checked the battery connections are tight, also Check your connections. grounds can come loose from the engine. I would check Ground to engine, then battery terminals, then tap the starter with a rubber hammer or...what ever. then Id put it in gear and rock it back, put in neutral, then back in gear and rock it back wards...back to neutral....turn the key. If nothing, I would push it down the driveway and pop the clutch. If you can do that let it run. Take a volt meter to the battery, rev it up and see if voltage climbs.
This will check your stator and battery. If you replace the battery and have a bad staor you will waste money on batterys
This will check your stator and battery. If you replace the battery and have a bad staor you will waste money on batterys
I just went out to the drive to try and start it after riding home from work. Of course, it pops right off. I pulled it in the garage and check the battery connections. Tight.
If the starter does turn, it sounds strong and the bike pops right off.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 666
Likes: 95
From: Berlin
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...ry-cables.html
Last edited by Smogbob; Jul 21, 2017 at 06:19 PM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, Nebraska
I checked the cable-to-battery connection. Both positive and negative.
i did not check the opposite ends of the cables. The bike was too hot to dig around on. I am not familiar enough as to the exact location for the ground and positive to check them with out some investigation.
i did not check the opposite ends of the cables. The bike was too hot to dig around on. I am not familiar enough as to the exact location for the ground and positive to check them with out some investigation.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 666
Likes: 95
From: Berlin
I checked the cable-to-battery connection. Both positive and negative.
i did not check the opposite ends of the cables. The bike was too hot to dig around on. I am not familiar enough as to the exact location for the ground and positive to check them with out some investigation.
i did not check the opposite ends of the cables. The bike was too hot to dig around on. I am not familiar enough as to the exact location for the ground and positive to check them with out some investigation.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 25
Likes: 4
From: Belle River,Ontario, Canada
Sounds like a battery issue. With my bike (2012 SG custom) I have a battery tender which I plug in every time I park the bike. I have noticed that over time (even with riding) the battery will discharge to the point where it barely turns over).
Check the whole charging system or have someone do it for you...
Check the whole charging system or have someone do it for you...
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 141
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From: Omaha, Nebraska
I do not believe it is a battery issue. The bike as NEVER cranked slowly. Even with the current issue, when it does crank, it cranks fast and pops right off.
When it does this issue, it does nothing. No "click", headlight doesn't dim, nothing.
I pulled the battery box, check all three ground studs, all tight. check the stud on the starter, tight. cleaned the connections at the battery. fired it up, took a voltage reading at the battery while idling, 14.4v. rev'd it, rock solid 14.4v.
I turned it off and started 4 times in a row, couldn't get it to replicate. I am hoping that maybe one of the connections that I touched was the issue, but they were all tight.
I would think when it is acting up, if it was a battery issue I'd hear a relay click or something when I hit the start button.
I have a battery tender also, it goes on the bike if it is going to set for more than a week or two.
When it does this issue, it does nothing. No "click", headlight doesn't dim, nothing.
I pulled the battery box, check all three ground studs, all tight. check the stud on the starter, tight. cleaned the connections at the battery. fired it up, took a voltage reading at the battery while idling, 14.4v. rev'd it, rock solid 14.4v.
I turned it off and started 4 times in a row, couldn't get it to replicate. I am hoping that maybe one of the connections that I touched was the issue, but they were all tight.
I would think when it is acting up, if it was a battery issue I'd hear a relay click or something when I hit the start button.
I have a battery tender also, it goes on the bike if it is going to set for more than a week or two.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, Nebraska
Thanks sir! this helped tremendously. I assume this came out of the service manual? I have one of these in the garage, didn't think to look at it for the figures.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,384
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From: Texas
I turn the ignition on, wait for the fuel pump to cycle and the warning lights on the dash to go off, hit the "start" button and NOTHING. Not even a click. I've found each time, if I mess with the button/turn the ignition on/off, roll the bike slightly with the clutch in and out, then hit the starter button again, it starts. I have not had time to try and determine which of the above actually helped b/c each time I am not in a position to be able to sit there a mess with the bike. I just need it to start to get home/work, etc.
Once it turns over, it kicks right off.
Might be..., intermittent starter switch..., or starter relay..., or bank angle sensor..., or ignition switch..., or neutral switch..., or the wiring / connections in between any of these
After you rule out bttry / grnd connections - verify above
May also be an intermittent starter / shorted winding - but I doubt it
Ghost