1979 fxs electrical problem
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1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: new york state
1979 fxs electrical problem
1979 shovelhead FXS LOWRIDER 1200cc
Battery was weak. I charged it, cleaned cables, etc. turned key on, hit starter button, but didn’t give it gas or choke it, it turned but didn’t start. So I gassed it, choked it, turned key on, as soon as I turned key on there is a thunk, hit starter button, everything goes dead. I repeated that a couple times, then stopped. It did the same thing everytime. So, I bought a new battery. ( the other was at least 4 years old ) installed new battery, same exact thing, turn key on, hear thunk , hit starter button, system goes dead. I can’t locate where the thunk is coming from, I cleaned the pos / neg battery cables, the ground to frame again . Didn’t change anything. Same thing happens.
Solenoid?
Battery was weak. I charged it, cleaned cables, etc. turned key on, hit starter button, but didn’t give it gas or choke it, it turned but didn’t start. So I gassed it, choked it, turned key on, as soon as I turned key on there is a thunk, hit starter button, everything goes dead. I repeated that a couple times, then stopped. It did the same thing everytime. So, I bought a new battery. ( the other was at least 4 years old ) installed new battery, same exact thing, turn key on, hear thunk , hit starter button, system goes dead. I can’t locate where the thunk is coming from, I cleaned the pos / neg battery cables, the ground to frame again . Didn’t change anything. Same thing happens.
Solenoid?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,317
From: Cental, MI
Something else been "touched"
Roll it over in neutral with kicker... ensure that it goes from gear to neutral...Please do Not stomp on Shifter!!!
If rolls OK
jump at solenoid (at Primary) from long post, to small screw.. Should engage starter!
Check in after for Progress.
Roll it over in neutral with kicker... ensure that it goes from gear to neutral...Please do Not stomp on Shifter!!!
If rolls OK
jump at solenoid (at Primary) from long post, to small screw.. Should engage starter!
Check in after for Progress.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,298
Likes: 6,324
From: Honah Lee
You have a volt/ohm meter?
What voltage is on your new battery with key off?
What is it when you hit starter?
PS..
For sure, Welcome. And only as a suggestion, make your next new post over in the new member welcome area to say hello.
What voltage is on your new battery with key off?
What is it when you hit starter?
PS..
For sure, Welcome. And only as a suggestion, make your next new post over in the new member welcome area to say hello.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: new york state
I don’t have one. The 4 year old+ battery turned it once, before I got this new gel battery. What would a voltage drop or no voltage drop,tell me, assuming that’s what the meter would indicate?
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2023
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From: new york state
Touched? Grounded? ( yeah, it’s never ever made a noise just turning the key on, just lights)
I’ll try and get out there today, no garage, bike is in dirt driveway. I’m assuming rolling it over is kicking it with key off? Jesus, I used to be able to kick start it but not in 15+ years, it’s a bitch to start kicking it, especially with my old back, now. The jump start on the solenoid, just watched a you tube video. Looks straight forward. Thanks. I’ll be back
I’ll try and get out there today, no garage, bike is in dirt driveway. I’m assuming rolling it over is kicking it with key off? Jesus, I used to be able to kick start it but not in 15+ years, it’s a bitch to start kicking it, especially with my old back, now. The jump start on the solenoid, just watched a you tube video. Looks straight forward. Thanks. I’ll be back
Last edited by odinbear; Aug 29, 2023 at 12:44 PM. Reason: Added to my shit
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,317
From: Cental, MI
What else been "touched"?????
Batteries are Always suspect...especially "new" ones!!
Without a Digital Volt/Ohm meter...yer absolutely Lost.
Only thing to do is Make sure it is in Neutral and Jump solenoid...Long Post to small Screw... Sure don't need to watch an Hour of You Tube to get there!!!
Batteries are Always suspect...especially "new" ones!!
Without a Digital Volt/Ohm meter...yer absolutely Lost.
Only thing to do is Make sure it is in Neutral and Jump solenoid...Long Post to small Screw... Sure don't need to watch an Hour of You Tube to get there!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,298
Likes: 6,324
From: Honah Lee
That first voltage should be 12.7. At 12.3, a battery is considered discharged.
if you have 12.7 ..
When you hit the starter, a reading of 9.7 or so tells me that's the starter motor is spinning and is trying to crank.
Say after noting small drop of light and a tad more, that's just the little relay and solenoid relay that pulls in the big contacts for starter.
Now if it says dropped under 9.7, I would think amps are low in battery.
What you normally see if you just charged a 4-5 year old battery and after hitting it with the lights to kill maintenance charger 13.5 volt and you see 12.7, then when it grunts at starting dropping to 7 or 8, battery has no cranking amp capacity.
Try to work up to answer to you original question with out knowing basic facts will serve you little if someone just makes a wild guess.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Aug 29, 2023 at 04:41 PM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
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From: australia
batteries are a weird thing my shovel battery quit at 10 mths old showed 13v then dropped to 9.3 trying to start took the battery back to my hd mech who said it should have started. he put a meter on a shovel he had there and it dropped to 8v and started first go. he gave me another battery to try and said ring me if it works. installed it and started straight away obviously the battery was faulty
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Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: new york state
Something else been "touched"
Roll it over in neutral with kicker... ensure that it goes from gear to neutral...Please do Not stomp on Shifter!!!
If rolls OK
jump at solenoid (at Primary) from long post, to small screw.. Should engage starter!
Check in after for Progress.
Roll it over in neutral with kicker... ensure that it goes from gear to neutral...Please do Not stomp on Shifter!!!
If rolls OK
jump at solenoid (at Primary) from long post, to small screw.. Should engage starter!
Check in after for Progress.
turned key on, thunked as I turned key on, sounded like it came from upper part of bike, jumped solenoid with screwdriver, sparked , thunked , not as loud as turning key on, solenoid makes noise but didn’t engage starter. ( Note , ground terminal on solenoid is rusted corroded. I’m cleaning the terminal , hopefully later )
Last edited by odinbear; Sep 5, 2023 at 11:01 AM.