2015 Street Bob starting issues
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 186
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From: Lost Wages, NV
2015 Street Bob starting issues
I have a 2015 FXDB with around 68K miles on her. When I press the start button, she just clicks. Its a fast paced clicking like you get with a dead battery. Being that I thought my battery was dead and I was able to jump start her. I got her home and figuring I had a charging issue and that the voltage regulator was easy to get to, I slaved in a known good one from a buddys bike. I put the battery on the tender over night and in the morning hit the button. I again got the clicking. Okay, maybe a completely dead battery, tried jumping her off and still got the clicking. Wasnt looking like a charging issue anymore so I put my old voltage regulator back in. Now it looks like a starter issue. I took the plugs out and hit the starter button. Without the plugs in, she turns over just fine. Im thinking that my starter is dead. Figured Id jump in here and see if anyone has any other ideas before I order up a new starter motor. Im away from the bike for another couple of weeks as Im out of town on business but if the consensus is that the starter is dead, Ill go ahead and order a new one so that its there waiting for me when I get home.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 1,224
From: New Hampsha
Clicking usually means the electrical system can't supply enough current for the starter. the fact that it works if you pull the plugs tends to support this (you've reduced the load on the starter). First thing to look at after the battery itself is all the connections between the battery and the starter, and the battery and the engine ground. One simple test is to try to start it a couple of times then look for the hot connection. If you haven't taken the battery out an put it back, look at the battery connections first. Clean, tight and free of corrosion...
The voltage regulator won't affect the starting, only whether the battery runs down while riding or not, so, your voltage regulator could still be bad. I doubt it, though. The fact that you were able to jump it and ride home indicates the charging system is OK. More likely, it's a bad connection somewhere.
The voltage regulator won't affect the starting, only whether the battery runs down while riding or not, so, your voltage regulator could still be bad. I doubt it, though. The fact that you were able to jump it and ride home indicates the charging system is OK. More likely, it's a bad connection somewhere.
Last edited by John CC; May 7, 2021 at 08:04 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
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From: Granville New York
Im going to cast my vote for your battery is no good. Take to an auto parts store and get it load tested ...its free...starters aren't. While its out its a good time to clean up all the terminals and connections
Banned
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 325
From: Virginia
I’d check the simple thing first and make sure the battery terminals are on there tight and free from corrosion. I’ve had one work loose before and it was making the bike momentarily cut off when riding over bumps.
Also, sometimes a corroded terminal can support a light load but a heavy load will open the circuit. Had that happen to a coworker’s car once. Lights would work but when you hit the starter, click, click, click. The higher load of the starter was heating the corrosion, causing it to expand and open the circuit.
Edited to add - have you tried giving the starter a few good taps with a plunger handle or something? Sometimes that will get a dying starter or alternator working again.
Also, sometimes a corroded terminal can support a light load but a heavy load will open the circuit. Had that happen to a coworker’s car once. Lights would work but when you hit the starter, click, click, click. The higher load of the starter was heating the corrosion, causing it to expand and open the circuit.
Edited to add - have you tried giving the starter a few good taps with a plunger handle or something? Sometimes that will get a dying starter or alternator working again.
Last edited by E-clip; May 8, 2021 at 06:47 AM.
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