07 Roadking Custom Intermittent Startup Issue
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,434
Likes: 3,716
From: backwoods
People said they would take the ignition switch apart and clean. Mine was all or nothing. Maybe dirty and giving low voltage.
Take it apart and jumper. Use a meter and drawing. My line of work is whe in doubt jump it out. House heat, bike, tractor...
Take it apart and jumper. Use a meter and drawing. My line of work is whe in doubt jump it out. House heat, bike, tractor...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
Take the tank console off and clean the three connections on the ignition switch...I bet a pb& j sandwich those contacts are green with corrosion. Clean them hit them with some dielectric grease and enjoy the ride...hopefully lol. Won't cost you nothing but time and 27 cents worth of grease.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Never ever load test a battery hooked up. It needs a good 24 hours on a maintenance charger.
Then both cables removed if you load test it
Even with key off, the stator, speedometer, alarm/signal light, BCM if it has one, yours doesn't, ECM, and indirectly the voltage regulator are all getting voltage.
That's very risky.
With a voltage meter on battery using maintenance leads, key on. Then off. Battery should show 12.8 and be very close. A 12.3 reading is considered a discharge battery.
Usually not enough to get more then a click.
Now on most stock Harleys', crank it and if it shows 9.6 or more, battery is pretty good
If you hit starter and nothing happens after doing above, it's the key switch, your start switch or the start relay in fuse box
From what you say is not working, like I said, probably the key switch. But don't replace any parts till you diagnose problem.
Let us know when you get meter
Then both cables removed if you load test it
Even with key off, the stator, speedometer, alarm/signal light, BCM if it has one, yours doesn't, ECM, and indirectly the voltage regulator are all getting voltage.
That's very risky.
With a voltage meter on battery using maintenance leads, key on. Then off. Battery should show 12.8 and be very close. A 12.3 reading is considered a discharge battery.
Usually not enough to get more then a click.
Now on most stock Harleys', crank it and if it shows 9.6 or more, battery is pretty good
If you hit starter and nothing happens after doing above, it's the key switch, your start switch or the start relay in fuse box
From what you say is not working, like I said, probably the key switch. But don't replace any parts till you diagnose problem.
Let us know when you get meter
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Dec 27, 2023 at 12:30 PM.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 4,027
Likes: 6,286
From: SoCal
This sounds remarkably similar to an issue I had on my '06 Ultra... turn the ignition switch on & the gauges would illuminate, but the radio would not & the bike wouldn't start.
Cycle the IGN SW a few times and it would jump to life like nothing was wrong.
In my case, it turned out to be one of the large wires at the IGN switch being loose within the connector housing.
I pushed the wires back into the connector (reseating them and re-engaging the catches) and it resolved the issue.
I hope your issue is resolved as easily.
Cycle the IGN SW a few times and it would jump to life like nothing was wrong.
In my case, it turned out to be one of the large wires at the IGN switch being loose within the connector housing.
I pushed the wires back into the connector (reseating them and re-engaging the catches) and it resolved the issue.
I hope your issue is resolved as easily.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,893
From: Oklahoma
If your 07 is like my 08, the ignition switch can be separated from the lock, if you replace the switch, you shouldn't need a new lock. My switch was easy to take apart and clean. You may have to check your Off switch. Most don't bother with that at all. If that is intermittent, that could be your problem. The next time it won't start, try switching the Run/Off switch on and off a few times and see if that changes anything. You can also swap the position of the two relays and see if that changes anything. I hope you are lucky enough to have success with whatever you try first
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,434
Likes: 3,716
From: backwoods
I replaced the ignition on my 2001 FLHR. Many people did say to try cleaning it. It is my box of parks, if I ever get to it. I went to dealer, they said drag, on shelf, or order harley for $100 more. I never tried to pull the lock out
We don't lock bikes around here, Plus I can still lock the steering, which is more better to than ignition. So I don't even carry ignition key. I carry the one that works for bags and steering.
We don't lock bikes around here, Plus I can still lock the steering, which is more better to than ignition. So I don't even carry ignition key. I carry the one that works for bags and steering.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,434
Likes: 3,716
From: backwoods
My 01, I have the switch in tywrap harness, if came apart on me once, But nothing worked, What I find might be a better clue here, is some stuff worked, Maybe dirty contacts and low votage, or it might be a clue telling you to look in that area.
I find it odd some stuff works, that shouldn't iff the switch was comepletely bad Can always jumper the switch and see.
I find it odd some stuff works, that shouldn't iff the switch was comepletely bad Can always jumper the switch and see.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,156
Likes: 11,247
From: San Diego, CA
Take the tank console off and clean the three connections on the ignition switch...I bet a pb& j sandwich those contacts are green with corrosion. Clean them hit them with some dielectric grease and enjoy the ride...hopefully lol. Won't cost you nothing but time and 27 cents worth of grease.
Based on your posts, if you have verified a good battery & cables (to include grounds), it could be the ignition switch. Checking it is free..
Your ignition switch #71313-96A, is the same console mounted ignition switch used on softails. There have been reports of that switches internal switch contacts getting dirty and/or corroded. The switch costs $165, and needs to be "keyed alike" to avoid needing two keys.
Unfortunately, there are no instructions in the service manual to explain disassembling the switch to check & clean contacts. I had an intermittent electrical issue on my 2003 Heritage (same ignition switch) and it as quite easy. There are some small pieces (contacts & springs), so go slow and take pics as you go. I found some pretty bad contacts. I cleaned everything up, put it together with new dielectric grease, and my problem hasn't reoccured since.
To flip over the console, check the three main power connectors for good clean contacts, then remove, disassemble, clean, and reassemble the actual ignition switch just takes a little time. It costs nothing. It most likely won't be wasted time in a 16 year old bike
If the switch checks out, then I would be looking at the relays...
Here is a pic of the main contacts of the ignition switch under the console.
Her's a collage of pics when I took my ignition switch apart and cleaned it... just to give you an idea of what's involved.
Good luck with your diagnosis and repair....
Last edited by hattitude; Jan 2, 2024 at 09:20 PM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,434
Likes: 3,716
From: backwoods
B
Your ignition switch #71313-96A, is the same console mounted ignition switch used on softails. There have been reports of that switches internal switch contacts getting dirty and/or corroded. The switch costs $165, and needs to be "keyed alike" to avoid needing two keys.
..
Your ignition switch #71313-96A, is the same console mounted ignition switch used on softails. There have been reports of that switches internal switch contacts getting dirty and/or corroded. The switch costs $165, and needs to be "keyed alike" to avoid needing two keys.
..
I have read about people cleaning. And it works, You may lose pressure from wear. Mine had close to 90k. So I just replaced it. The last time time mine died it was in the dark on a highway. Luckily no cars behind me. I threw it my junk box to someday look at.
You can also jumper it out. When it doesn't start open it up, do not cycle and jumper.
Last edited by Rounders; Jan 3, 2024 at 09:02 AM.