Starter Problems or Ground Connection
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Starter Problems or Ground Connection
This is an FYI. Last week after riding my RKC, I went to clean it. Tried to start and just got the "machine gun" sound. From all the posts and talking to my local HD service, all recommended replacing the battery and checking the grounds. I full charged and replaced the battery with an HD one (since the one was in it when I purchased the bike from the previous owner and wasn't the "magical" - high torque one) and checked the ground wire connections that I could find. Well, it was still making the same sound and not starting.
Took it to a local indy (figuring the starter went bad) and after a day, had some interesting news. The ground wire from the engine to the frame was loose, therefore causing the only other source of a ground to connect - the clutch cable. I have noticed that the clutch was getting stiff (figured that it needed some powdered graphite in the cable). The clutch cable was arcing inside the cover (almost burnt the cable in half), causing the ground fault.
I am positive that if I took it to the local HD shop, I would be paying for a starter as well. Lucky for me I just had to replace the clutch cable ($36.00) and pay my indy for his labor. Now the bike is back on the street and the clutch is like new again.
Just never heard of the clutch cable issue and wanted to pass it along.
Ride Safe!!
Took it to a local indy (figuring the starter went bad) and after a day, had some interesting news. The ground wire from the engine to the frame was loose, therefore causing the only other source of a ground to connect - the clutch cable. I have noticed that the clutch was getting stiff (figured that it needed some powdered graphite in the cable). The clutch cable was arcing inside the cover (almost burnt the cable in half), causing the ground fault.
I am positive that if I took it to the local HD shop, I would be paying for a starter as well. Lucky for me I just had to replace the clutch cable ($36.00) and pay my indy for his labor. Now the bike is back on the street and the clutch is like new again.
Just never heard of the clutch cable issue and wanted to pass it along.
Ride Safe!!
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
My bike was doing the same thing last week it was doing it on and off. Since I am somewhat familiar with starting system on cars I figured bikes are not any different. When I push the start button all I heard was the rapid fire clicking did the usual cable cleaning and battery terminal cleaning. it didn't help I pushed the start button and played with the single green wire behind the stater. It started by doing that, so I cleaned it and applied some terminal grease to keep dry so it does not get wet when I was the bike, which I figured was the cause for any corrosion and prevented the contact. Just an FYI for all.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 715
Likes: 2
From: NW Florida
This problem was posted here a couple of months back. Two members got into a pissing match because one young guy didn't believe it. Same problem loose frame ground but hadn't gotten to the point where cable was melted through.
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