Road Glide Starting issue
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
From: Knoxville,Tn
Road Glide Starting issue
I apologize in advance if Im posting this in the wrong section. I have a 2017 RG Ultra with the 107 M8 engine. When I hit the start button, the starter hesitates, then after a second manages to crank the engine over. Acts just like a weak battery. So I took the battery out and had it checked, its 100% OK, load tested and voltage. This bike has less than 20K on it, I would think Harley makes a stout starter for these things, but I could be wrong? Any ideas about where to go next would be appreciated,,,,,,,,,,,
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 463
From: On a Lake, not far from the Gulf
Does it do it on every start, only when it is cold, or hot, or does it do it sporadically? Have you recently completed any work on the bike? If so recheck that work first. Check your connections from the battery on both sides, and make sure they are tight. Check ground connections. If all that seems OK, see if you can swap your battery for a known good battery. I know yours tested good, but sometimes batteries are just flaky.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
From: Knoxville,Tn
Thanks for the response. It does it about half the time. Its unnerving since I ride with a group and we can be far away from home. No recent work. Ill make sure everything is good and tight and try it again.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 165
Likes: 70
From: Northhern Mississippi
I have a 14 Limited. The starting you describe has happened to me also after about 2 - 21/2 years on a battery. New battery cures the problem. I ride a lot 15-20K per year. I am currently on my third battery.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Batteries
If your sure the battery leads are tight and corrosion free on both ends, where the starter originates and where it ends as well as the ground from the battery to the frame. Then it is probably your battery. I took a battery to advance auto to have it checked. It had been on a tender for several days and was still flat even though the tender said it was charged. They told me the battery was good and just needed to be charged...Get a new one.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 562
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma City
The good thing is batteries aren't that expensive and they are easily changed. I am also betting it's the battery.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 201
Likes: 57
From: Gorham NH
My '16 Ultra cranked slowly from the day I picked it up. I thought is was "normal". After 2 years it started cranking REALLY slowly. I dropped in a Mega Crank from Battery Mart and what a difference. Bike cranked a lot stronger. I had been putting up with a weak battery since new. 100 bucks well spent.