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Apr 3, 2015 | 08:05 PM

phkmann

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Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 23

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From: Jacksonville NC

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Howdy fellas!
My wife and I are owners to a brand new to us XLH 883 sportster...its a 1998, with 7,631 miles on it. Now I bought it yesterday, and rode it 120 miles back home. Everything worked great, rode fine, except the second time I tanked up (still unsure with the small tank how far is o.k.) it didn't start back up, because the battery was dead? It is a new battery, but now I am about to start diagnosing. I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas on what the fix was right off the bat before I start crawling into this. It push started after about 2 feet, this thing runs like a top, and I'm pleased with it. Just seeing if anyone has a quick "oh that happened to me" type deal. Thanks for the help guys!

~Phil

Apr 3, 2015 | 08:44 PM

SLV

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 4,423

Likes: 47

From: Outside the Lines

Loose battery cables are a relatively common cause of this. Check the ground posts on the engine too.

Apr 3, 2015 | 09:53 PM

mad jak

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Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 85

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From: chillicothe mo

my 1995 883 sportster is 2.25 gal my bike gets 52 miles a gal so i go between 80 to 90 miles b4 i stop that gives me a little extra in tank b4 i turn to reserve

Apr 4, 2015 | 12:13 AM

OddJack

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Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 1,725

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From: South

Yeah, usually happens after "new battery was installed" by the owner

Loose terminals.

Apr 4, 2015 | 01:07 AM

starforbrian

Cruiser

Joined: May 2013

Posts: 230

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From: Orange County, CA

Yeah keep an eye on your fuel level. I have a 3.3 gallon tank and earlier today while riding around and tuning my carb I ran low on fuel and my bike kept dying out. At first I thought the carb was giving me trouble but I just had it running a bit rich so it was drinking gas faster than usual. Flipped it over to reserve, leaned the mixture a bit and voila. It also runs a lot better now and it's not all "boggy" running.

Apr 4, 2015 | 06:36 AM

old schooler

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Joined: Aug 2014

Posts: 218

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From: Canada

I agree ,check your battery connections both ends,on the 03 and earlier models the battery is hard to get at,as you will find out

Apr 4, 2015 | 10:30 AM

traffic jam

Road Warrior

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 1,420

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From: Columbus Ohio

Another possibility: my '95 would stall at random times, just die. I would turn it all the way off, then turn it on and it worked great again. It was the ignition switch where you put the key in. Got a new one and never had the problem again.