Went out to the bike, started it and it cranked for awhile and than I heard a clickclickclickclick like it had a bad starter, than it cranked normally again. The battery cables are new, I thought I saw some blue smoke on the primary side (electrical smoke) but cant be certain. I was thinking of pulling off the solenoid as the dealer said they replaced the starter (it has been about a year and a half). I was going to disassemble the solenoid and see what I can't see. Everything is charging normally since it is intermittent I am trying to figure out what would click.....the starter or the solenoid?

Thank you

Jesse

 

Did you check all the wires to make sure none are loose or possibly rubbing the frame?

 

The solenoid is the most likely thing to"click", but anything that causes low voltage will cause it to do so. I would check the starter relay first. If you indeed had smoke, it is most likely the starter. Hitachi starters are notorious for the through bolts shorting out, and causing smoke.

 

Starter 101

If it click click click click you know all is well to the solenoid which is just a big electric magnet. Until it has good 12.7 volts and enough amps to pull it to contact the big contact that turns the starter on, do not condemn the starter. It actually take more volts (not amps) to pull in then the starter needs to run. Now if it just made one click and the starter did not run, then it could be the starter or the actually big contact that starts the starter that the solenoid bumps into on the way to push in the starter sprag clutch gear. You probably have a weak battery or a bad connection at the battery or the big wire on the solenoid. This is not exactly your system but close and same principal

 

What is a good way to load test the battery? I have am automotive load tester but I am not sure how to set it up for a motorcycle. The battery is almost two years old, sealed Harley battery.

Thanks

 

Here ya go

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/evo-c...ng-system.html

 

The click of death is when you hear the sound of a shotgun slide behind you.lolol.
Very un-mistakenable.

 

Weak/discharged battery or bad battery cables/dirty connections. Yeah, go through the diagnostics sticky.

 

14v under normal operation, it has started every time for me, but the clicking sound is new, all grounds are tight cable are new. I was thinking of taking the battery out and bringing it to Harley to test just to be safe. They will do it for free (gasp).

 

If you are getting a series of clicks you don't have "the dreaded click".

A series of clicks is caused by one of two things.
1 A weak battery
2 A bad solenoid

Do you have a battery tender on your bike?
If so leave it hooked up when you start your bike and if you still get the series of clicks then you have a bad solenoid if you don't you have a weak battery.