Hi. My wife has a 97 Sportster Hugger, 883. I put a new battery in it in July. She rode a few times in July and August but then let it sit. I wanted to move it today to start to get it ready for winter, but it didn't even turn over. The battery has a full charge. It has a battery tender. When I push the start button the lights dim a little. I was thinking maybe the starter relay?? Does anybody know where it is? Or what else it could be? It has a fairly new starter and ignition. Thanks for any help.

 

Battery........check voltage....put on a CHARGER......not a tender

If you don't have the multimeter for that take it to a auto store and have them load test it and charge it.

check ALL battery connections and make sure they are tight!!

yes batteries do that

 

Thanks for the reply. I did use a meter on it. It has 12.4 volts. The connections are tight. But I did not do a load test on it. I will check that in the morning. But it was a good quality battery that I just got it July, so I wasn't thinking it would go bad. It is guaranteed. So I will test it first thing. The relay went bad on my Heritage last year and even though the battery was good it would not turn over. That is why I was guessing about the relay on this one. On my Heritage the relay was under the seat, down in front of the rear fender. I looked for the one on the Sportster but didn't see what I thought it would look like.

 

12.4 volts static is Not a fully charged battery, especially the more modern AGM batteries. you need to charge it up on a full service charger, vs a tender then load test it.
m

 

after fully charging battery!!!

Static state
12.7 = 100% charged (AGM batteries run about .1 higher so 12.8)
12.6 = 90%
12.4 = 75% (marginal)
12.2 = 50% replace

with a FULLY charged battery........connect the leads from multimeter to battery, try to start bike and watch what the reading is on the meter.
if BELOW about 10v, the battery is toast.

That is the load test.

 

I'll try that tomorrow morning. I took the battery out of my Ultra and switched that in but still no start. It would not fit in the tray and had to be held while I tried it. But it wouldn't start it either. I guess I have to start checking wires at the start button etc.