Help hard start problems, 08 touring

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Aug 27, 2016 | 11:17 AM

#11

bdtaylor1979

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2009

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From: Garland, TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by tunes

Ok had the battery tested and it has cranking power. Came home and put it back together and now it wont do anything but this click. Have it on the tender just in case the two tests drained power. but now it sounds more serious than battery?
IMG 4358 - YouTube

My dad's 2014 ultra limited sounded like that a few days ago. The battery tender light was green but when I took the battery out and had it tested at Oreillys, they said bad battery. Got a new battery and starts fine now. My local dealer said Harley batteries last an average of 2-3 years.

Good luck.

Aug 27, 2016 | 12:17 PM

#12

nytryder

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2008

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From: Central Fl

May want to check the ground and hot wires at both ends to be sure they are making a good contact.

Last edited by nytryder; Aug 27, 2016 at 12:20 PM.

Aug 27, 2016 | 12:35 PM

#13

EdwardK

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 1,800

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From: Houston, Texas

Still sounds like a bad/weak battery, but if it tested good???

Check the connections at both ends of the battery cables and make sure they are clean and tight. The sound you hear is the starter solenoid, but clicking is a sign of low voltage or a short. If the starter was bad, it would only click once.

Check the ground studs up by the tank as well. I noticed you have added a lot of electronics, one of the studs is also the ground for the starter and it may have come loose.

I'm no texpert but my money is it is something simple like a ground wire, not serious but can be a pain to find.

Good luck

Aug 27, 2016 | 12:44 PM

#14

nfe

Tourer

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 373

Likes: 12

From: Minneapolis MN

Quote:

Originally Posted by tunes

Battery is two years old and always on a tender. Shows good voltage in ACC will try looking at it when cranking.

Voltage only matters when the battery is cranking. A weak battery will drop from ~12.5V to 10V quickly.

My list would be

1) battery if it's older than 18 months
2) Solenoid connection (from starter) check to make sure it's got 12V; I had one that only has 9.5V
3) Check Compression Releases.
4) Pull and check starter. But I don't think you'll get past #2

-G

Aug 27, 2016 | 02:59 PM

#15

Taggs

Road Warrior

Joined: Sep 2015

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From: USA

Was the battery under a load tested?

Aug 27, 2016 | 03:36 PM

#16

tunes

Thread Starter

Advanced

Joined: Aug 2008

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Tags not sure what you mean was it under a load teested. They have a meter at Bulldog Battery that puts it under load. Showed good at rest, when loaded it dropped little but not close to where they said battery was bad...

I know the battery connection is good but will follow the leads and check ground and solenoid for voltage.
Thanks again, really appreciated.
Mike

Aug 27, 2016 | 03:40 PM

#17

nfe

Tourer

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 373

Likes: 12

From: Minneapolis MN

Quote:

Originally Posted by tunes

The question is how far did it drop under load. These bikes need ALL the voltage you can get!

Secondly, IF the starter is bad, or loosing power, get a more powerful one! I did on my '94 and LOVE IT.. I am waiting for a reason to crack my primary on my '09 and I'm going to reply that one!

G

Aug 27, 2016 | 06:20 PM

#18

Taggs

Road Warrior

Joined: Sep 2015

Posts: 1,447

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From: USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfe

Thank you G for that clarification. Your right on with battery condition. anything less than up to top output will cause a lazy cranking start. This sounds like that IMO.

For battery load testing I use a hand held heat sink tester. It will eliminate any question as to good or just average battery condition by its recovery from that test. After the test I will recharge battery for a half hour and install again if volt test reads high.

G is right, the average battery condition from test showing "good" sometimes just doesn't give you a true condition for the high voltage draw from starter placed on the battery.