Won't Start update
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 45
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From: Taylors, SC
Won't Start update
Remember my thread where I said the bike wouldn't start when I pressed the starter switch? It's a '93 FXLR 90th Anniversery. I swapped handlebars and had to lengthen everything. I took my time and it took about 3 months of off and on working on the project. Well, when I finally got the wiring finished, I thought I'd give it a quick engine turnover. Nothing. The lights come on, all wiring is correct, headlight dims, turn signals work, horn works, everything is fine it's just that the engine doesn't move. Not even an "errrrr..." One thing I did notice was that when the ignition is switched on, what sounds like a relay clicks on and off intermittantly. On for about 5 seconds, off for a second, then on again and repeats that cycle. Well a reply to my last thread concerning this was that the battery could of lost some juice. I placed a charge on the battery but that didn't help. Well, I got to thinking... There's a solinoid end cover you can purchase which has a pushbutton on it to use for starting. In the description it says, "bypasses the starter switch AND relay". I said, "hmmmm..." I switched the ignition on, removed the solonoid end cover, stuck a nut driver in there and pressed the mechanism in. Engine turned over like a scalded dog. If I had gas in her, she'd have started right up. Battery had a full charge. So, the question is: Is there a "Starter Relay" that may need replacing? Any thought s as to what the problem could be?
Thanks
Thanks
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,718
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From: Back in the Good Ole USA. South Carolina to be exact.
Yes, on my 08 Fat Bob it is behind the side cover on the left. But since the rewiring, have you checked the connection aal the way through?
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 662
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From: SE Michigan
A relay is a switch that uses low voltage or current to switch a high current circuit. You need to see what is happening on the low side. The low side is probably sending a positive voltage to the relay from the starter switch. Take a voltage reading from ground to the smaller wire on the relay. Should be zero. Next take a voltage reading while you hit the starter button. Do you get 12 volts?
Seems weird that the relay would go bad at the exact same time you re-wired.
Seems weird that the relay would go bad at the exact same time you re-wired.
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Taylors, SC
The only thing I could've wired backwards would be two of the idiot lights. The turnsignals have one hot wire and one ground, so it doesnt matter which wire is ground or hot. One of the other lights is that way, also. Either the Neutral Light, Highbeam Light, or Oil Light has a hot and ground but the remaining two lights have both of their wires plug into the Molex Connector. Could one of those be in the wrong place? They worked when I switched them back and forth checking to see if there was a particular hole they needed to go in.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,673
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From: Norfolk, VA
I think the other poster has it right, the first step should be to verify you are getting 12 volts to the relay when you press the starter switch. A volt meter is your friend. You have to sort of work backwards on this sort of problem. If you are getting 12 volts to the relay than you know your wiring is fine . You already know the starter is fine and the battery is fine. If you are not getting 12 volts to the relay move to the switch and see if you are getting 12 volts to the hot side of the switch. Good luck, I know how frustrating electrical problems can be.
My advice: check all the wires you worked on one by one to find out if they are isolated well and/or not stuck/damaged and do not short-circuit with some part of the frame or handlebar.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Central DE
I agree with Renee on this. You are popping a breaker.
Sounds to me like like you have a ground fault somewhere.
Sounds to me like like you have a ground fault somewhere.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
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Hay KD, I just went through this on my 91 FXR. As it turns out, it was corrosion on the battery terminals. Quick clean job with some emmery cloth and I am back in business. I had the same symptoms as you. All electrical bells and whistles worked but the bike would not start . Battery voltage was fine. Do this first before you replace stuff. Hope it works out.
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Banned
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it cerainly sounds like you have a short, probably in the form of a pinched h/bar wire
the click sound is almost certainly a circuit breaker and I would say it is more 5 secs OFF and 1 sec(or less) ON
the breakers are under the left hand side cover
take it off and identify which one is activating(you can feel the click)
it has nothing to do with batt charge, or batt connections, or starter relay failure
all totally irrelevant
the click sound is almost certainly a circuit breaker and I would say it is more 5 secs OFF and 1 sec(or less) ON
the breakers are under the left hand side cover
take it off and identify which one is activating(you can feel the click)
it has nothing to do with batt charge, or batt connections, or starter relay failure
all totally irrelevant
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