My starter engages when the ground is touched to the battery, I have unplugged the ignition switch and it still happens. New starter and battery. It did this before I replaced the starter.

 

I think you have a starter relay. You might try swapping it with another of the same type from one of the other circuits. Could be stuck and making the starter run as soon as the battery is connected.

Just a thought,
Tom

 

His bike doesn't have a starter relay. His bike doesn't have any relays for that matter so don't go looking!

What we need to know is what led up to this happening? Did you one day press the start button and then the starter didn't stop spinning? How did the fault transpire?

 

I meant to mention there is no starter relay. I went to start it and all it did was click, so I took my sons battery and installed it, went to hook up the negative cable, and that is when it decided engage the starter. Whenever you touch the cable to the battery the starter engages. I traced all the switch wires and unplugged them and it still happened, unplugged the ignition switch and it still engages.

 

Sounds like your solenoid (on the starter itself) is stuck. That's the only place high amp current would come through to activate the starter. The contacts may be fused.

Part(s) #4 on the Starter diagram:
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...avidsonmc/1152

John

 

I apologize, I did not mention the new starter and new battery.

 

Is your (green?) wire to the solenoid hot when you connect battery? Perhaps your BCM has some issues? I think the BCM controls the starter circuit (and green wire), but I could be wrong.

John

 

In this case it is a Red / Black wire but you are correct that it comes direct from the BCM.

I would test the starter on the bench. Easy to do and then you can check solenoid operation without having the motor turn.

 

My apologies for the wrong info on the relay. Would delete if I could.

Good luck with the starter! Hope it's an easy one.

Tom

 

Thanks for the clarification on wire color. My wire is green, but my bike is 33 years old with a starter relay.

John