I have a 1976 FLH Electra Glide and I was recently having problems with my starter. I replaced the starter motor because I thought that was the problem, wasn't exactly it, but the brushes were bad anyway so I replaced it. I had a dead battery and hooked it up to a charger/jump starter. I make attempts at jumpstarting it and I get this chattering problem where it seems like the starter justwon't engage. I thought it could have been the celenoid so Ihave a brand new celenoid on it as well now and it does the same thing. I have been told that the reason is because the battery cell walls have collapsed and it's not giving a good ground or something along those lines. Before I go and tear it all apart I want to find outif anybody else had this problem and has been fixed by getting a new battery. I have ordered a new battery from JP Cycles, should be here by Friday (hopefully sooner). I tried to get the battery somewhere closer, but the only other place that carries it (except HD $85.00 by the way) is Sears Automotive and they were out of stock. If there is anything else that can be tried to fix this problem? I'm open for suggestions.

 

How does your starter drive gear look on your primary side? Sometimes you can loose a tooth or two and it make a terrible clatter

 

I opened up the primary because I thought that could be an issue too, but the teeth are all there and everything is straight. Nothing is bentor broken inside the primary. Should also mention it is a belt drive primary.

 

sounds like the starter solenoid isn't pulling in

 

Brand new one

 

check you wiring sounds like a weak link there. also check all connections. something is dropping your voltage. Hope this helps.

 

I have a 1990 that 50% of the time you hit the starter button and all you hear is the relay clicking. I have replaced the battery as well as the relayand determined it is a wiring issue. I put a push button on the solenoid until I can locate the wire issue. $30 bucks and much better than using a jumper wire across the starter battery lead and the solenoid . Good luck

 

How does that work? I used to use a large wrench.

Check your main battery cables with a meter. Sounds like low voltage

 

I have checked the voltage and I am at 12v until I plug the selonoid lead in then it drops to 7.9 volts. I still am not sold the selonoid is bad until I check all the wiring... ever look in the fairing... there are a ton of wire connectors.

The jumper thing is just taking a piece of wire of pretty good size gauge and shorting across the two conectors on the battery.

 

I have hooked up a volt meter to the celenoid while using the jumper/charger and getting 12v so I don't think it's the wiring. I have also changed the relay.