WTF happened here? Probably 'tarded out...
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 424
Likes: 357
From: Santa Barbara, CA
WTF happened here? Probably 'tarded out...
I'm always in a rush when I'm leaving for work in the mornings, but last week I got on my Harley, (2011 Crossbones) pressed the starter and it cranked once and nothing. I pushed the starter again and this time it made a strange, high-pitched whine noise and no crank. I shut it all down, waited about 30 seconds and turned it on, (all lights on) pressed the starter and this time nothing at all (not a sound). It usually starts on the first try, and note that I keep my battery on a tender at least 2 weeks out of every month.
Anyway, I was running late for work, so I just rolled the bike in the garage and hooked up the battery tender when I got home. The following day I started it up, and it started and ran fine. I rode it up and down the block a few times and shut it down, then started it up again about six times, each time it started right up. Next day I rode it to work and home no problem starting in the morning or evening going home from work.
I'm now wondering WTF happened? I was thinking maybe I tapped the kill switch the day it wouldn't start, but why would it make that whining noise if the kill switch was tripped, and why would it whine once, and then go silent on the second try? I'm now totally screwed up in the head trying to remember exactly the sequence of events and trying to make mechanical sense of what even might account for my experience. Some intermittent problem that will show itself soon? UGH!
I'm just going to ride local until I'm confident the bike isn't going to strand me somewhere far. Any advise would be appreciated.
Anyway, I was running late for work, so I just rolled the bike in the garage and hooked up the battery tender when I got home. The following day I started it up, and it started and ran fine. I rode it up and down the block a few times and shut it down, then started it up again about six times, each time it started right up. Next day I rode it to work and home no problem starting in the morning or evening going home from work.
I'm now wondering WTF happened? I was thinking maybe I tapped the kill switch the day it wouldn't start, but why would it make that whining noise if the kill switch was tripped, and why would it whine once, and then go silent on the second try? I'm now totally screwed up in the head trying to remember exactly the sequence of events and trying to make mechanical sense of what even might account for my experience. Some intermittent problem that will show itself soon? UGH!
I'm just going to ride local until I'm confident the bike isn't going to strand me somewhere far. Any advise would be appreciated.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 836
Likes: 230
From: Deep South
Age ....
Start with the simple stuff first ...How old is the battery .??? that can't be the original battery ...??? (i guess)
Don't over think it ...most times ..its something we've done or not done right !!!
need more info ...battery age ..etc...
Don't over think it ...most times ..its something we've done or not done right !!!
need more info ...battery age ..etc...
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 424
Likes: 357
From: Santa Barbara, CA
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 424
Likes: 357
From: Santa Barbara, CA
Thanks. Never heard of a frame ground, but I'm guessing it would be a cable running from the negative battery post to the frame (duh). I'll check it out...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,434
Likes: 3,716
From: backwoods
maybe battery. But starter clutches can reveal themselves when battery a little low. Fine with good battey.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,186
Likes: 17,837
From: In a van down by the river
I'm always in a rush when I'm leaving for work in the mornings, but last week I got on my Harley, (2011 Crossbones) pressed the starter and it cranked once and nothing. I pushed the starter again and this time it made a strange, high-pitched whine noise and no crank. I shut it all down, waited about 30 seconds and turned it on, (all lights on) pressed the starter and this time nothing at all (not a sound). It usually starts on the first try, and note that I keep my battery on a tender at least 2 weeks out of every month.
Anyway, I was running late for work, so I just rolled the bike in the garage and hooked up the battery tender when I got home. The following day I started it up, and it started and ran fine. I rode it up and down the block a few times and shut it down, then started it up again about six times, each time it started right up. Next day I rode it to work and home no problem starting in the morning or evening going home from work.
I'm now wondering WTF happened? I was thinking maybe I tapped the kill switch the day it wouldn't start, but why would it make that whining noise if the kill switch was tripped, and why would it whine once, and then go silent on the second try? I'm now totally screwed up in the head trying to remember exactly the sequence of events and trying to make mechanical sense of what even might account for my experience. Some intermittent problem that will show itself soon? UGH!
I'm just going to ride local until I'm confident the bike isn't going to strand me somewhere far. Any advise would be appreciated.
Anyway, I was running late for work, so I just rolled the bike in the garage and hooked up the battery tender when I got home. The following day I started it up, and it started and ran fine. I rode it up and down the block a few times and shut it down, then started it up again about six times, each time it started right up. Next day I rode it to work and home no problem starting in the morning or evening going home from work.
I'm now wondering WTF happened? I was thinking maybe I tapped the kill switch the day it wouldn't start, but why would it make that whining noise if the kill switch was tripped, and why would it whine once, and then go silent on the second try? I'm now totally screwed up in the head trying to remember exactly the sequence of events and trying to make mechanical sense of what even might account for my experience. Some intermittent problem that will show itself soon? UGH!
I'm just going to ride local until I'm confident the bike isn't going to strand me somewhere far. Any advise would be appreciated.
Final sign is the fuel pump. Turn the ignition on, listen for that whirring noise when it engages. Don't know about anyone else with EFI but every time I turn my bike on, that sound is consistent and stays the same. Battery's on it's last leg? Even that fuel pump activation noise starts to sound different.
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