Sportster starter installation
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 42
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From: Indianapolis
Sportster starter installation
Installed a new starter, and cable to the battery is hot without command. Installation went flawless until I tried to reconnect the battery. During removal I disconnected the hot cable from the battery, and when I tried to reinstall I got arky sparky. I disconnected the trigger wire and disconnected the solenoid from the motor, but still getting sparks while trying to connect to battery. Is my new starter grounded out?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
Only if you don`t know the correct way to do it.
As marco says, you need to follow the process called out in the Harley Davidson service manual.
Forget about youtube, it is full of hacks showing the wrong way to do it.
If you install it the wrong way, the negative cable will work loose, causing the starter to have insufficient power.
Why did you replace the starter, did you do any troubleshooting first?
What year is the bike?
As marco says, you need to follow the process called out in the Harley Davidson service manual.
Forget about youtube, it is full of hacks showing the wrong way to do it.
If you install it the wrong way, the negative cable will work loose, causing the starter to have insufficient power.
Why did you replace the starter, did you do any troubleshooting first?
What year is the bike?
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Oct 20, 2025 at 07:05 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
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you do know that they make those batteries with the poles swapped per application? perhaps you got one with the opposite pole positions. one of the greatest things you can do here is to replace the stock cable positive with welding whip lead that is more flexible and you can add length. i also recommend using a bonding strap for the negative side as it will lay flat and/or fold to meet your needs.
plumb crazy to work hot, like smoking while looking into a gasoline can, ever been around an exploding battery, not pretty not to mention electrolyte every where, blind you in a heart beat.
plumb crazy to work hot, like smoking while looking into a gasoline can, ever been around an exploding battery, not pretty not to mention electrolyte every where, blind you in a heart beat.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,173
Likes: 12,740
From: South Carolina
Come on Buster...You obviously are not familiar with the battery/cable configuration on this Sportster.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Oct 21, 2025 at 08:25 AM.
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Indianapolis
Bike is an '07.
After sitting almost a year the starter was hung up. I removed the spark plugs to relieve compression and had to tap on the starter for it to spin. It seemed satisfied for a week of about 10 different starting procedures, until it hung up again, so decided to replace.
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: San Diego, CA
Did you try to just energize the solenoid, and not the entire starter? Or have it bench tested for proper function. The green wire should carry power without the big wire attached to the starter post.
John
John