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Engine turns over with kill switch on

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Old Nov 27, 2023 | 01:23 AM
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Default Engine turns over with kill switch on

Hi guys

Recently had my tank off on my 2004 Road King to do cam chain tensioners, and upon putting it back on and firing up the bike I noticed that the engine will still turn over (but not fire) with the kill switch in the OFF position (i.e. not clicked down to RUN).

The bike has been off the road for a few months but I'm sure it never used to turn over like this beforehand. Checked my friends 2008 Road King and his doesn't turn over in the same scenario, and previous Harley's I've had didn't do this either.

What the heck could it be? Everything else re; starting and killing the engine works fine. Handlebars and hand controls haven't been touched. Could a pinched wire in the loom that plugs into the tank, underneath the tank, cause this? Surely not?

Any help much appreciated!!
 

Last edited by bronxnz; Nov 27, 2023 at 01:28 AM.
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Old Nov 27, 2023 | 05:02 AM
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Pinched something electrical.
 
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Old Nov 27, 2023 | 07:21 AM
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Are you the original owner of the bike?
 
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Old Nov 27, 2023 | 07:27 AM
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Open up the right side switch housing, look for 2 wires crushed together.

Maybe even easier, unplug the connector for the Right Hand switches, and check for continuity between the two wires in the illustration.

Press the start button: You should only see continuity when the run switch is set to run.

 

Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Nov 27, 2023 at 08:32 AM.
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Old Nov 27, 2023 | 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
Are you the original owner of the bike?
As in have I owned it since new? Negative
 
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Old Nov 27, 2023 | 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
Open up the right side switch housing, look for 2 wires crushed together.

Maybe even easier, unplug the connector for the Right Hand switches, and check for continuity between the two wires in the illustration.

Press the start button: You should only see continuity when the run switch is set to run.

Thanks Dan. The odd thing is I haven't touched the bar controls. I've only had the tank off and then rockers off and cam chest stripped. Do any of the right control wires run to the tank loom? That's the only plug that was touched and potentially pinched. I'll see if I get time today to unscrew the right control and do the test you mentioned. Thanks again!
 
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Old Nov 27, 2023 | 11:24 PM
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Given the starter still gets juice and the fuel pump does not, would the issue not be further down away from the controls? I'm just trying to find diagrams now for where the kill switch to starter wire runs but if anyone can help me locate it that'd be great.
 
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Old Nov 28, 2023 | 05:58 AM
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The above diagram isn't complete but clearly shows 12v+ first goes to the stop/run switch. In run position, it then feeds the start button and (not pictured) ignition/related circuits. They've been wired that way for decades, very simple. With fuel injection, what and where other items are energized by the same circuit I have no clue, never worked on f/i bikes or that year/model of bike. Can't tell you what color the wires are, where they run or are connected.

Unless you have a basic understanding of the circuit described above and a factory wiring diagram, you might want to have someone else take a look at it.

Here's the HD site where you can input VIN and get a wiring diagram; https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson....cle/lookupForm
 
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Old Nov 28, 2023 | 08:12 AM
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If the OP tests the continuity as described in post #4, it will tell him which way he has to go to find the problem.
 
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Old Nov 28, 2023 | 08:24 AM
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I`m thinking that the issue must be before the start switch, because the starter is still being controlled by the start button.

If the Red/Black wire were getting power from a short to another wire after the switch, the starter would run whenever there was power to the wire it was shorted to.
 
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