Trouble Starting
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: North Dakota
Trouble Starting
Hey guys, so a month or so ago I tried to start my bike and all I heard was the starter click. So I decided that I would throw a battery tender on it. I had the tender on it since saturday, and the light was green which the instructions say is just the float mode or whatever you want to call it. Today I filled it with gas, put some Sta-Bil in it and went to start it. It turned over, but wouldn't catch. The light then went red on the tender, almost like the battery was dead again. Anyone know what my problem could be? I am avoiding a new battery, but thats the only thing I can think of. Thanks in advance.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels, Texas
Chances are it's the battery. Battery tenders are meant to trickle charge a good battery and not really meant to charge a dead one.
Take the battery out and take it to autozone or one of those places and have them check it.
You need to ride that thing....get it out of the garage
Take the battery out and take it to autozone or one of those places and have them check it.
You need to ride that thing....get it out of the garage
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: North Dakota
Chances are it's the battery. Battery tenders are meant to trickle charge a good battery and not really meant to charge a dead one.
Take the battery out and take it to autozone or one of those places and have them check it.
You need to ride that thing....get it out of the garage
Take the battery out and take it to autozone or one of those places and have them check it.
You need to ride that thing....get it out of the garage
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,384
Likes: 12
From: Out on Deranged
When I try to start mine without un-plugging it , will sometimes do just that and I think it's because the charger takes a read when you are asking the battery to give all she's got. Mine does that and my batt is new from this summer.Rooti is right though the best thing is to take it right off and have it checked.
Also if it is cold where you are the engine will turn over much slower this time of year.
Also if it is cold where you are the engine will turn over much slower this time of year.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: North Dakota
Thanks guys, I think I will give it one more try and if I get nothing take it in. I noticed when I got new exhaust, intake and a tune that it doesn't start up as quick either. Kinda worries me a little but I think I read that its normal. But I wonder if that effects it now too.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: North Dakota
Just got back from Batteries Plus and AutoZone. They both said my battery is good. Earlier today when it was fully charged I tried starting it again, and it just didn't seem to crank hard enough or for very long. Any other ideas?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,641
Likes: 1,985
From: Cleveland Zoo
I would do easy things first.
Get battery charge topped off again.
Dis-connect Power Commander and try to start it.
Did you wash the bike recently?
Put fresh gas in without the Sta-Bil crap.
Why was your starter clicking in the first place? My bike can sit for two months and it turns over fine. This is why even though they say your battery is OK, it might not be.
If it's turning over OK look at the PC and gas.
Get battery charge topped off again.
Dis-connect Power Commander and try to start it.
Did you wash the bike recently?
Put fresh gas in without the Sta-Bil crap.
Why was your starter clicking in the first place? My bike can sit for two months and it turns over fine. This is why even though they say your battery is OK, it might not be.
If it's turning over OK look at the PC and gas.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 750
Likes: 3
From: 3rd Rock
Take a close look at your bonding jumpers (grounds) on your battery and on the chassis (where the Batt. ground goes to the frame). Mine is on the top of the Tranny case.
The corrosion that causes a failure cann't be seen so, go after them with a small stainless wire brush.
I've had that happen before. (push start and all I got for afew seconds was " Click, click-click, click" then as the arcing at the lug heated it, it would make better contact and, allow enough current to make things go.)
Just a though....Hope it works for you.
Best wishes....Tim(HT)
The corrosion that causes a failure cann't be seen so, go after them with a small stainless wire brush.
I've had that happen before. (push start and all I got for afew seconds was " Click, click-click, click" then as the arcing at the lug heated it, it would make better contact and, allow enough current to make things go.)
Just a though....Hope it works for you.
Best wishes....Tim(HT)
Last edited by Harley Tim; Nov 9, 2012 at 01:21 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,278
Likes: 1,138
From: southeast PA
+1 on the battery ground connection, it can make a big difference. Also check your starter relay contacts. Clean them up if needed and use dielectric grease. Those relays sometimes don't last very long and you can get one from an auto parts store for not a lot of money.