So here's what happens. I have an '07 50th anniversary edition sportster 1200. I was on vacation and when I returned I went to go for a ride. When I turned the key...it started trying to start, I hadn't turned on the run button or pushed the start button.
I read on line that moisture could be the problem (?). So I opened up the switch box and let it dry...if it was moist. Put it back together. Next day it started and I went for a ride.
Next time I went to ride it a few days later, it started no problem however when I turned it around( u-turned) to start out...it started trying to start.....it was already running....PLEASE HELP..thnx

 

Sounds like you have a circuit that's north of the solenoid . I would take the tank off and trace the wires from the start button until you come to some frayed or broken wiring .

 

welcome to the forum! So glad you're here. Who are you? What are you? Will you stick around after someone fixes your problem?

 

Check your starter relay, that's something that could trigger the starter inadvertently. Usually they just fail in the opposite way, not allowing a start.

John

 

1. Sorry, I will be sticking around after I obtain help from someone. I am a retired truck driver, I have had my sporty for 2 years.
   I ride every chance I get, even just to the corner store. I live in southern calif. so the weather is rarely a problem… I LOVETO RIDE..

 

Thank you

 

If turning the handle bars causes the starter motor to run would suggest to me an intermittent operation of the start switch on the right hand side controls, however that occurs.

Wiring diagram here - 99949-07_en_v1.1 - 2007 Wiring Diagrams (harley-davidson.com)

To the RH controls is a grey wire that carries power. A White/Black wire is the power feed from the Engine Stop switch that goes to one side of the Start switch. A Black/Red wire is power to the start relay from the Start switch.

The grey wire is pin 3 and the Black/Red is pin 6 in connector 22. Being one above the other is a place to look as well as the switch housing and possibly pinched and frayed wires under the brake lever mount.

 

^^^ The wiring color code changed significantly from the Old Stuff!!!!! Excepting the Grey!!!
Just an Observation, that I need to try to Remember!!!!

 

The guy has a 2007. I have linked the 2007 wiring diagram. The colour of the wires is as I state.

What HD did in 2006 and earlier doesn't really matter IMO.

 

Unplug the connector from the starter relay.

On the connector, read voltage at the Black/Red wire in the connector.

Do this while moving the bars back and forth and try moving the wiring harness around.

There should be no voltage reading, except when the start button is pressed.

If you get a voltage reading without pressing the start button, there is an issue somewhere in the wiring or switch.

If you see no voltage reading, suspect the relay.

It may have been a coincidence that the problem occurred while turning the bike around, it may simply be that the relay is bad.

Either way, I would replace the relay.