Electrical Starting Question
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Electrical Starting Question
My bike has been running like a champ, then today here is what happened. I turned the ingition key on like normal, all the lights light up. I push the start button and the everything goes out. I took off the left side cover, there is a male/female plug with one black wire and one red wire. I giggle the black and red wires and then the lights come back on. When I do this there is a funny noise too. I push the start button and bingo it starts. This has been happing to me the last few times I go to start my bike. I now have noticed that nothing happens when I giggle the red wire, but only giggling the black wire will get all the lights to come back on and then start my bike. Has anyone had this problem, and if so what do I need to do to fix it. O, its a 2004 XL883C Sportster \\;if that makes a difference.
 \\;
 \\;
 \\;
 \\;
Stage III
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Electrical Starting Question
I have a friend that has a '06 Sporster and she was having a similiar problem. In addition to the lights going out the speed ometer would jump and you could hear a strange sound like an electrical sounds. Brought it to the Harley dealership and they said it was a loose connection on the battery. Hope this helps
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 50
From: A barrier island in NJ
RE: Electrical Starting Question
Sportsters are notorious for having loose battery cables. \\; My suggestion is to tighten all four points of the positive (red) and \\;ground (black) battery cables. \\; A physical check is worthless, \\;you must ensure their tightness with a wrench. \\; If they are in any way dirty or corroded, remove the two cables and clean the contact ends with a wire brush and sandpaper, then reattach and tighten. \\; Although the culprit is usually the ground (black) cable, do all four battery cable points of contact. \\;
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 8
From: Wheeling, WV
RE: Electrical Starting Question
^ +1 on what Thumper said....and check the \\;tender connector, (the black and red wire connector that mentioned under the cover), for \\;bare spots, as it could be shorting out.  \\; \\;
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: NE FL
RE: Electrical Starting Question
What is the easiest way to tighten the negative wire? \\; I got into it when I added the siren to the bike and was a pain to get bolted on and off with out an extra set of hands. \\; I ended up kind of balancing it on a knee so that I could use both hands to hold and tighten the wires.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gork
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
11
Jul 10, 2020 07:11 PM
