Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Starter problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 1, 2018 | 05:47 PM
  #1  
Homedog's Avatar
Homedog
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: IL
Default Starter problems

I have an 04 ultraclassic, when i push the start button the relay clicks and the solenoid clunks but does not turn over, appreciate any advice.
 
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2018 | 05:50 PM
  #2  
GalvTexGuy's Avatar
GalvTexGuy
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,106
Likes: 5,350
Default

Battery?
 
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2018 | 06:21 PM
  #3  
im's Avatar
im
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,128
From:
Default

Your battery has a strong possibility of being dead.
Remove battery and have it tested.
Battery plus bulbs or advance autoparts will have the AGM battery cheaper than dealer by about $60.
Battery plus bulbs has an online discount code that can be used online.
Advance auto parts allows you to pull a discount code on your computer , then order it/pay for it and then pick-up the battery at a store in about an hour.
 
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2018 | 06:28 PM
  #4  
Homedog's Avatar
Homedog
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: IL
Default

Nope batter is charged completly
 
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2018 | 06:51 PM
  #5  
GalvTexGuy's Avatar
GalvTexGuy
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,106
Likes: 5,350
Default

Originally Posted by Homedog
Nope batter is charged completly
That may be true, but it can still be the battery. My buddy has a 17 Limited that exhibited the same symptoms as you. The first thing I asked him was about the battery. His response was "It's only two years old and I keep it on a tender." After having the bike towed to the dealer, guess what? Yep, the battery.
 
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2018 | 07:39 PM
  #6  
Homedog's Avatar
Homedog
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: IL
Default

I totally understand what your saying, but i took it back to interstate battery and they checked it said its fully charged with no problems
 
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2018 | 04:35 AM
  #7  
Mike flhp's Avatar
Mike flhp
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 92
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
Default

I assume they load tested it? If not, or unsure, take it to AutoZone, they have a high tech tester and you'll have an unbiased assessment.
 
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2018 | 05:06 AM
  #8  
Hoginedgewood's Avatar
Hoginedgewood
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,338
Likes: 1,283
From: Ky
Default

I have a bypass button, but you can remove the cover on the starter selonoid, press the selonoid with the plastic end of a screwdriver. Make sure it’s in neutral. Ignition switch doesn’t need to be on.
 

Last edited by Hoginedgewood; Sep 2, 2018 at 05:07 AM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

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

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 2, 2018 | 05:26 AM
  #9  
JackStaff's Avatar
JackStaff
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 783
Likes: 126
From: East Coast
Default

Sounds like loose connection battery-starter. Ur only working with 12VDC? The current demand by the starter is huge! Any reduction in VDC as the result of loose/dirty connections will result in significant voltage drops.

That said, the connections won't take a lot of tightening torque. Very easy to strip the threads. That happens and ur truly doomed!
 
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2018 | 07:28 PM
  #10  
im's Avatar
im
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,128
From:
Default

A battery being charged and a battery being good are two different things.
A battery can show voltage but not have enough amps to meet the demand of starter.
Was the battery LOAD tested or just checked for voltage?
The battery requires very good contacts to spin the starter.. check to make absolutely sure that all 4 FOUR ends of your battery cables are tight.
To clarify: Each battery cable has TWO ends...those ends on each cable must be tight.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:44 AM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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