Starting problem 1987 FLHTP
it started last year and got steadily worse, same thing, just hit the button and away it went so I did not worry about it too much. Went to go for a short spin and stopped for fuel and it would not start, dead as if the battery were flat. Towed it home and it started as soon as I got it off the trailer but then never started again and that was last October. Got it all back together and now it still won't start, even put 12v direct to the starter terminal and it still would not roll the bike over. I pulled the outer primary and with a socket & power bar was able to roll the engine over pretty easy. Put it all back together and still nothing. When I hit the button the engine might roll 1/4 turn max. This is the same setup I had all last year and it started fine but at this point I am out of ideas. Too many moving parts in the old evo starter setup and I like the newer bike setups better. Too frustrated to even look at it this week-end, it's Miller time for me.
Thank you, I never even thought of the starter being a problem, it is new and I 'assumed' that it is good. I checked everything out yesterday & took it all apart, I can look into the primary and see the starter clutch engaging the ring gear. Maybe I will pull the starter out and send it back, gonna be pissed if I spent all this time and the starter was garbage but that would explain a lot. I put 12v direct to the starter and it was not able to roll the engine over so to me that indicates that the trouble is somewhere between the starter and the ring gear.
FINALLY, the bike fired up!
Thank you to everyone who posts on this forum, I got a lot of good reference material just from reading others peoples posts and in the end that is what helped me to finally fix my issue. After a lot of work and frustration I sorted out what was wrong and got the bike started up. It was a sweet sound to hear it run and I have not heard that rumble since mid Oct 2013, all is well in the world again!
So here is what I did and again my thanks to those who have posted before me.
a) I would try to determine if it was a mechanical or electrical issue, pulled the plugs out and the bike cycled with no problem at all so no obvious issues with my new parts or assembly and at this point ruled out that the issue was mechanical
b) so it is more then likely an electrical issue, with my trusty ohm meter I could see a massive 8 volt drop when I pressed the starter button, checked across the battery terminals and then between the battery negative and the starter post, same drop no surprise. I decided to eliminate the regulator from the circuit and disconnected the regulator lead from the 30 amp circuit breaker located under the seat. This also feeds the solenoid so I tightened everything down minus the regulator lead, hit the starter and lo & behold the bike fired up right away without the regulator in the circuit. It spun faster then it ever did and fired immediately, voltage drop was only 1.5 volts now. What a great feeling to hear it run, now to order a new regulator and I will be back in business.
keep posting everyone, it really helps to read through others posts and get new ideas and suggestions, the posts and feedback is much appreciated!
So here is what I did and again my thanks to those who have posted before me.
a) I would try to determine if it was a mechanical or electrical issue, pulled the plugs out and the bike cycled with no problem at all so no obvious issues with my new parts or assembly and at this point ruled out that the issue was mechanical
b) so it is more then likely an electrical issue, with my trusty ohm meter I could see a massive 8 volt drop when I pressed the starter button, checked across the battery terminals and then between the battery negative and the starter post, same drop no surprise. I decided to eliminate the regulator from the circuit and disconnected the regulator lead from the 30 amp circuit breaker located under the seat. This also feeds the solenoid so I tightened everything down minus the regulator lead, hit the starter and lo & behold the bike fired up right away without the regulator in the circuit. It spun faster then it ever did and fired immediately, voltage drop was only 1.5 volts now. What a great feeling to hear it run, now to order a new regulator and I will be back in business.
keep posting everyone, it really helps to read through others posts and get new ideas and suggestions, the posts and feedback is much appreciated!
Bike was intermittantly not starting last year and just got worse until it just would not start at all. Usually if I just hit the starter button a couple times it would start but last Oct it just would not start again. The bike acted like the battery was too flat to turn over the bike but the regulator was bad and that caused a huge voltage drop. I don't think anything killed the regulator, my guess is it went intermittant and eventually just died. The stator was pretty burnt which I replaced but i don't know at this point if it could have burnt out the regulator. Today I picked up a new regulator from my local Harley dealership and installed it, the bike fired up right away and is charging perfectly. Just have to get it back together, washed, listed in the paper then sold to make room for my next project.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Bike was intermittantly not starting last year and just got worse until it just would not start at all. Usually if I just hit the starter button a couple times it would start but last Oct it just would not start again. The bike acted like the battery was too flat to turn over the bike but the regulator was bad and that caused a huge voltage drop. I don't think anything killed the regulator, my guess is it went intermittant and eventually just died. The stator was pretty burnt which I replaced but i don't know at this point if it could have burnt out the regulator. Today I picked up a new regulator from my local Harley dealership and installed it, the bike fired up right away and is charging perfectly. Just have to get it back together, washed, listed in the paper then sold to make room for my next project.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,032
Likes: 12,559
From: South Carolina
The starting circuit goes from the battery to the solenoid, across the contacts in the solenoid to the motor, through the starter case and back to the negative post on the battery.
It does not go through the regulator. Save your money.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,448
From: la la land jerzey
The regulator may be connected to the breaker, but it is NOT part of the starting circuit. The problem was a bad connection at that point, not the regulator.
The starting circuit goes from the battery to the solenoid, across the contacts in the solenoid to the motor, through the starter case and back to the negative post on the battery.
It does not go through the regulator. Save your money.
The starting circuit goes from the battery to the solenoid, across the contacts in the solenoid to the motor, through the starter case and back to the negative post on the battery.
It does not go through the regulator. Save your money.
the way we found to confirm that fact, is to remove it the regulator wire from all the time 12 volts and move the wire to key on, and if the battery stay up at that point then yes the regulator is going to go totally bad soon - jz
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 2
From: Florida
In my case, the battery if not draining. I didn't think the regulator has anything to do with starting, but I'm always looking for ways to throw money away! I'll find something else to **** it away on.