General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Bad starter relay??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 11:24 AM
  #1  
TwincamJim03's Avatar
TwincamJim03
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: PA
Exclamation Bad starter relay??

So my 03 Softail has been having trouble starting.. It starts but is slow to do so... My battery is not yet a year old, The cables are tight and it happens when cold or when warm... I'm wondering if my starter relay is going bad... The bike only has 19k on the odometer.. Any other ideas??
 
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 12:27 PM
  #2  
6 gun's Avatar
6 gun
Seasoned HDF Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
Default

Slow in what way Jim? Does it turn over real slow, or turn over way too many times before it starts?
 
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 12:30 PM
  #3  
TwincamJim03's Avatar
TwincamJim03
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: PA
Default

Turns over slow and after a couple of seconds it will start... used to start right away..
 
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 12:38 PM
  #4  
2AMGuy's Avatar
2AMGuy
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Community Influencer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,982
Likes: 5,220
From: Michigan
Default

I'd think it's the battery.
You could try using jumper cables to see if the bike does crank faster or you could just have the battery tested.
A battery is much cheaper and easier to replace than the starter.
 
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 12:40 PM
  #5  
GeorgiaGlide's Avatar
GeorgiaGlide
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default

2nd getting battery tested
 
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 12:58 PM
  #6  
6 gun's Avatar
6 gun
Seasoned HDF Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
Default

Originally Posted by 2AMGuy
I'd think it's the battery.
You could try using jumper cables to see if the bike does crank faster .
A battery is much cheaper and easier to replace than the starter.
This is just exactly what I would do right now.
 
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 02:17 PM
  #7  
TwincamJim03's Avatar
TwincamJim03
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: PA
Default

I'll try it.....
 
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 03:18 PM
  #8  
Mal74's Avatar
Mal74
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 7
From: Clermont, GA, CSA
Default

If it turns out it's the battery, get a trickle charger for your new one. It will make your battery last longer. WalMart has a decent charger for about 20 dollars.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 03:38 PM
  #9  
TwincamJim03's Avatar
TwincamJim03
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: PA
Default

I have a trickle charger for it and use it in the winter when I'm not riding... Wouldn't think it would be needed in the warmer months...
 
Old Jul 4, 2013 | 06:50 PM
  #10  
HD Jim's Avatar
HD Jim
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 3
From: Central Texas
Default

Originally Posted by TwincamJim03
I have a trickle charger for it and use it in the winter when I'm not riding... Wouldn't think it would be needed in the warmer months...
Heat will drain a battery ... use your battery tender year round
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:24 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE