Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection Need advice on ignition issues? Questions about a tuner? Have questions about a EFI calibration or Fuel Injection? Tips on Engine Diagnostics, how to get codes, and what they mean. Find your answers here.

Will Not Start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 4, 2006 | 12:21 PM
  #1  
Mark_ms's Avatar
Mark_ms
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Default Will Not Start

I have a 2000 sportster 1200. This season I did not have much of a chance to ride and my bike sat for 4 months. I went to start it the other day and turned on ignition and headlights came on as they are supposed to but when I went to start it just clicked, thinking that it may have been battery I put a trickle charge on it for 2 days and went to restart and same thing happened.
Could it just be the battery? or something a little more complex??
I am not the most mechanical oriented person but if I take my time I can be led through it.
Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2006 | 12:22 PM
  #2  
springer_'s Avatar
springer_
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 583
Likes: 5
From: Maine
Default RE: Will Not Start

Change the battery, especially if it is the original battery.
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2006 | 12:40 PM
  #3  
WARG's Avatar
WARG
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
Default RE: Will Not Start

Battery... may not be holding a charge, especially if it sat through extremely hot temps. Heat is killer on a battery.
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2006 | 01:12 PM
  #4  
glide's Avatar
glide
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 8
From:
Default RE: Will Not Start

Remove, clean and replace the battery terminals, should be clean and shiney. If it still clicks, then have the battery load tested at anyplace that sells batteries after a full charge. Some times all it takes is an extended SLOW charge (trickle) to bubble the electrolite and remove the sulfation from the plates from non use.
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2006 | 02:17 PM
  #5  
Mark_ms's Avatar
Mark_ms
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Default RE: Will Not Start

Thanks for quick replys...Battery is not original but is 4 years old. I have had it on trickle charge for 2 days and still clicks so I am going to replace battery today and go from there. terminals do seem clean but will look at them again.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
00copglide
Touring Models
7
Sep 5, 2015 05:24 PM
atom_werner_x
Sportster Models
16
Mar 15, 2013 06:59 PM
Barbarian Black Sheep
Softail Models
1
Sep 22, 2012 03:16 PM
paud
General Harley Davidson Chat
8
Sep 5, 2012 05:36 PM
Renback
General Topics/Tech Tips
3
Feb 13, 2010 08:20 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:18 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE