New to the forum, this is my first post and boy do I need your help as the dealerships cannot find the problem. I have a 2005 883 low sporty, stock motor and starter. My problem is sometimes my bike won't start but I have all electrical functions including lights, power and ground. When I try to start the bike I get a click to the solenoid. Thats all, one click. When I move the bike in neutral backwards a few feet then it will start. Battery output is 12.6-13.1, so it is charging. If anyone can give me suggestions please, it will be greatly appreciated, cause this problem is driving me absolutely insane.

 

Welcome. It sounds like loose battery cables to me. The wife has the same bike and I have experienced this as well. Also check the ground for the battery cable.

 

I already checked all cables and they seemed good. I put dielectric grease around all connections. Question: could it be battery being so low that charging system couldn't recharge enough to allow it to start all the time? I charged the battery overnight and now it starts fine. I have an aftermarket light indicator showing battery and charging system operating normal, also metered out battery and it showed good. 13.5 amps.
thanks in advance.

 

Its hard to diagnose elect problems without being there with the bike when it happens,but if all connections are good and the battery is good,try a starter relay,itll be the cheapest thing to try,If it continues pull the starter off and try cleaning the brushes and while it is off clean the solenoid contacts also.Also with the bike being rubber mounted make sure you have a good ground from the battery to engine and then a good ground from the engine to the frame.

 

Checked BOTH ends of battery cables? Could be your solonoid, or relay starting to go too.

 

Thanks to all that have helped me in my time of desperate need.. I wll try all the options that you have given me to try. It sure is nice to know that there are people out there that are willing to take time out of their busy day and go that extra mile to help another fellow rider. THANKS Ranger 007

 

Thanks to all who have helped me with my starter problems. I finally got the craps of it all. I took the primary cover off, ripped out the starter, bench tested it, and found a big old flat spot on the armature. What a relief to find that although expensive. I just look at it this way. Working on the bike will keep me out of the wife' s hair and give me something to do over the winter months. And the look on the wife's face when she realized that I can really fix something. ((((( PRICELESS!!))))) The only question I have now is? ((( WHAT THE HE#$ IS NEXT))) lmao.. Thanks all for your help. ( Bob in Pa.)