2001 Road verry occasional starting issue
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,086
Likes: 1,128
From:
review #1 , # 2 , #3, #4 from my post and let us know.
You have low miles at 21,000 so it would lead me to think it was the wires to the starter, trigger wire or start button IF it WAS starter related.
Basically the fat wires to the starter or the wires from start button on handlebar to the relay and starter.
Sometimes one of the 4 ends of the fat cables to the starter gets loose.
Rather confused because you mention "Yes, they rewired my voltmeter, radio, and heater element to a plug in element." A road king does not have a factory radio, voltmeter or heater element.
By heater element i will guess you mean grip heaters.
This is why i asked about modifications.
A)Heating elements are a huge draw and if they are powered with the IGNITION KEY in the OFF position then battery can be drained and cause a click click.
B)Since there is also a radio i have to wonder if it is able to stay on with ignition KEY in the off position.
C)You also mentioned a push start...this would mean the bike had enough battery to run fuel pump and the ECM but not enough to crank (click click).
Since you answered earlier that jumper cables were used to the battery and nothing improved...it leads me back to the wires to the starter, trigger wire, relay or start button.
You have low miles at 21,000 so it would lead me to think it was the wires to the starter, trigger wire or start button IF it WAS starter related.
Basically the fat wires to the starter or the wires from start button on handlebar to the relay and starter.
Sometimes one of the 4 ends of the fat cables to the starter gets loose.
Rather confused because you mention "Yes, they rewired my voltmeter, radio, and heater element to a plug in element." A road king does not have a factory radio, voltmeter or heater element.
By heater element i will guess you mean grip heaters.
This is why i asked about modifications.
A)Heating elements are a huge draw and if they are powered with the IGNITION KEY in the OFF position then battery can be drained and cause a click click.
B)Since there is also a radio i have to wonder if it is able to stay on with ignition KEY in the off position.
C)You also mentioned a push start...this would mean the bike had enough battery to run fuel pump and the ECM but not enough to crank (click click).
Since you answered earlier that jumper cables were used to the battery and nothing improved...it leads me back to the wires to the starter, trigger wire, relay or start button.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
2001 Roadking starting issue
Thank you, will give suggestions a try. Response to your questions below.
Rather confused because you mention "Yes, they rewired my voltmeter, radio, and heater element to a plug in element." A road king does not have a factory radio, voltmeter or heater element. Add all these aftermarket, handle bar radio system, voltmeter is a small digital unit that I have attached to frame. I originally had everything wired directly to battery, Harley tech should me where an extra plug was that he used to wire everything too for cleaner and tighter connection.
By heater element i will guess you mean grip heaters. No, plug in for heated gear.
This is why i asked about modifications.
A)Heating elements are a huge draw and if they are powered with the IGNITION KEY in the OFF position then battery can be drained and cause a click click. Good point, but this is happening now when not using the heated gear, unit has an on and off light switch when using the gear.
B)Since there is also a radio i have to wonder if it is able to stay on with ignition KEY in the off position. It does not, it's a cheaper system that actual shuts off with the key (Harley Tech wired it this way)
C)You also mentioned a push start...this would mean the bike had enough battery to run fuel pump and the ECM but not enough to crank (click click).
Since you answered earlier that jumper cables were used to the battery and nothing improved...it leads me back to the wires to the starter, trigger wire, relay or start button. Yes, exactly, every time I was pushed started the bike started right up, and I would have no issues for a week, month. Oddly enough this last time it happened (Monday) once I got home I shut the bike off, and it would not start, same clicking just as before. I hooked up to the battery charger, and 30 minutes later started right up, however the charging unit was still showing red (not fully charged).
Rather confused because you mention "Yes, they rewired my voltmeter, radio, and heater element to a plug in element." A road king does not have a factory radio, voltmeter or heater element. Add all these aftermarket, handle bar radio system, voltmeter is a small digital unit that I have attached to frame. I originally had everything wired directly to battery, Harley tech should me where an extra plug was that he used to wire everything too for cleaner and tighter connection.
By heater element i will guess you mean grip heaters. No, plug in for heated gear.
This is why i asked about modifications.
A)Heating elements are a huge draw and if they are powered with the IGNITION KEY in the OFF position then battery can be drained and cause a click click. Good point, but this is happening now when not using the heated gear, unit has an on and off light switch when using the gear.
B)Since there is also a radio i have to wonder if it is able to stay on with ignition KEY in the off position. It does not, it's a cheaper system that actual shuts off with the key (Harley Tech wired it this way)
C)You also mentioned a push start...this would mean the bike had enough battery to run fuel pump and the ECM but not enough to crank (click click).
Since you answered earlier that jumper cables were used to the battery and nothing improved...it leads me back to the wires to the starter, trigger wire, relay or start button. Yes, exactly, every time I was pushed started the bike started right up, and I would have no issues for a week, month. Oddly enough this last time it happened (Monday) once I got home I shut the bike off, and it would not start, same clicking just as before. I hooked up to the battery charger, and 30 minutes later started right up, however the charging unit was still showing red (not fully charged).
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,199
From: Oxford, Nc
I have a 2000 Road Glide rebuilt after a bad wreck last year (see Avatar (before) and Sig Line (after.)) So you can certainly forgive her if the miniscule break in an insulated wire somewhere prevents the starter from operating, but only some times.
I'm certainly not going to replace the right side handlebar harness so what I did was install a solenoid switch directly onto the starter. This button will turn the starter over even if the ignition is off. It bypasses everything in the handlebar switch, and it was cheap and easy to install. No more 'click' for me!
Please see the link.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-SOLENO...c16ee6&vxp=mtr
I'm certainly not going to replace the right side handlebar harness so what I did was install a solenoid switch directly onto the starter. This button will turn the starter over even if the ignition is off. It bypasses everything in the handlebar switch, and it was cheap and easy to install. No more 'click' for me!
Please see the link.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-SOLENO...c16ee6&vxp=mtr
Last edited by Stiggy; Apr 3, 2015 at 08:43 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,175
Likes: 12,748
From: South Carolina
Clean all the battery cable connections, both ends of the cables (battery end, solenoid end, starter motor end).
Replace the contacts inside the starter solenoid, you can find the parts at a starter repair shop, no need to pay dealer prices.
Don`t throw money at a new starter.
Replace the contacts inside the starter solenoid, you can find the parts at a starter repair shop, no need to pay dealer prices.
Don`t throw money at a new starter.
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