Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Ignition problems?

Old Jul 14, 2024 | 04:39 PM
  #1  
Lukedpilot03's Avatar
Lukedpilot03
Thread Starter
|
Stage I
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee
Default Ignition problems?

Hello all,

New to the forum. I have a 2008 softail classic. Yesterday, I tried starting my motor and when I turned ignition, the lights came on but no oil light on the panel. When I flip the off/run switch nothing happens. Battery is fine, it ran just fine earlier in the day. When i took the cover apart and wiggled the igniton, a few times I got the required lights on the panel and off/run switch when flipped engages the starting mechanism.

Any ideas? Is it the igniton?

Thanks

Luke
 

Last edited by Lukedpilot03; Jul 14, 2024 at 04:48 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2024 | 05:00 PM
  #2  
BFREE's Avatar
BFREE
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,982
Likes: 347
From: Illinois
Default

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...le-riding.html

Read this. Might be the problem. Be careful because there are some very small springs in the switch. Take pictures as you go.
 
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2024 | 05:26 PM
  #3  
mjrfd99's Avatar
mjrfd99
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,790
Likes: 3,003
From: NJ Shore and IRB Fla
Default

Same 2 yrs ago with my 07 heritage - I sprayed WD or something similar in the switch after taking the dash off and twisting the sw on and off multiple times to break up the light green corrosion I could see Blew it out with compressed air and it has worked since
I think the old TV tuner cleaner would work too.
Try cheap first The switch change sucks because you lose the common key for dash and fork lock
 
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2024 | 09:26 PM
  #4  
hattitude's Avatar
hattitude
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,075
Likes: 11,096
From: San Diego, CA
Default

Originally Posted by BFREE

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...le-riding.html

Read this. Might be the problem. Be careful because there are some very small springs in the switch. Take pictures as you go.

As mentioned above, it could be the ignition switch. Cleaning the ignition switch is a cheap & easy thing to do. It is also good maintenance if it's not the main issue.

Remove the switch, and disassemble it on a flat, clean surface. Also as mentioned, take numerous pics as you go. There are some small parts, but it is totally doable.

Cleaning the ignition switch on my 2003 Heritage fixed an intermittent starting problem I had several years ago. My contacts definitely needed cleaning. No issues since.

Here is a few of pics I took during disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly... You can see it's a pretty simple switch. I took more pics than I show here, and one of them helped me when putting the switch back together... I was glad I took them...

 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jedbug
Electrical/Lighting/Alarm
4
Oct 7, 2023 05:37 AM
cjw_doc
Electrical/Lighting/Alarm
2
Aug 15, 2018 06:41 PM
ChrisV
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
2
Sep 24, 2014 08:52 PM
jlbreaux
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
2
Jul 9, 2013 07:00 PM
aussieace06
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
2
Feb 15, 2006 02:16 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:55 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE