Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Sportster won’t start ..

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 14, 2021 | 05:57 PM
  #1  
Alin21's Avatar
Alin21
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default Sportster won’t start ..

Hi All , I have 2013 sportster iron 883. In the winter I took the battery out but I didn’t use a tender just placed the battery in basement. Couple days ago I put the battery back on had a bit of trouble starting it and eventually started.
now I tried it again it won’t start and the lights keep flashing and the alarm keeps going off
anyone experience this issue ?
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2021 | 06:36 PM
  #2  
Bass Player's Avatar
Bass Player
Grand HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 4,126
Likes: 2,117
From: W. MI.
Default

Battery is either no good or needs a good charge. How old is it?
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2021 | 07:31 PM
  #3  
Alin21's Avatar
Alin21
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by Bass Player
Battery is either no good or needs a good charge. How old is it?
im not sure I bought the sportster last year.
do I buy a tender and charge it ?
 
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2021 | 07:43 PM
  #4  
mkayx's Avatar
mkayx
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 612
Likes: 172
From: U.S.A.
Default

Originally Posted by Alin21
im not sure I bought the sportster last year.
do I buy a tender and charge it ?
have the battery load tested replace if needed and yes get a tender either way
 
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2021 | 04:24 AM
  #5  
Andy from Sandy's Avatar
Andy from Sandy
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Influencer
Liked
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,258
Likes: 4,947
From: England
Default

have the battery load tested
You usually have to take the battery to the tester with it fully charged.

Get a tender that can double duty as a charger, something like the c-tek mxs 3.8 - MXS 3.8 UK CTEK Consumer

That way if the battery is flat it will get charged up quicker than the usual tender only chargers that run at very low current but being intelligent it can be left connected to keep the battery topped up.
 
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2021 | 11:27 AM
  #6  
SteveThePirate's Avatar
SteveThePirate
Advanced
Veteran: Army
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 84
Likes: 24
From: Oahu
Default

Once a battery is discharged below 12 volts it will rarely recover....it is worth a try to charge and load test it, but be prepared for a new battery. Keeping it charged is best.
 
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2021 | 02:57 PM
  #7  
Alin21's Avatar
Alin21
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

Okay can i just purchase
Amazon Amazon
and charge it and then do a load test ?
 
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2021 | 06:35 PM
  #8  
Alin21's Avatar
Alin21
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

Okay so .... it turned out to be the FOB battery .. so I changed it and the alarm stops going off. Tested the battery it’s 12V. But know I hear clicking sound when I push start. I ordered a battery tender.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 16, 2021 | 07:32 AM
  #9  
FUJILICIOUS's Avatar
FUJILICIOUS
Road Captain
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 651
Likes: 203
From: River City, CANADA
Default

If you haven't charged it, charge it.
 
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2021 | 09:25 AM
  #10  
Acedoc's Avatar
Acedoc
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 392
Likes: 188
From: india
Default

Originally Posted by Alin21
Okay so .... it turned out to be the FOB battery .. so I changed it and the alarm stops going off. Tested the battery it’s 12V. But know I hear clicking sound when I push start. I ordered a battery tender.
a weird trick that worked is to keep the kick stand on a non conducting surface - I use a piece of scrap ply! No voltage drop since I started doing this
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
commandozx
Sportster Models
104
Oct 2, 2021 03:03 AM
Eva Sissom
Sportster Models
0
Sep 1, 2018 06:56 PM
Sembethc
Sportster Models
12
Nov 16, 2015 02:41 PM
Noobie
Sportster Models
13
Sep 28, 2012 06:38 PM
FC1383
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
0
Apr 23, 2007 11:17 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:12 AM.

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