Starter issues - need help!

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Aug 13, 2011 | 06:45 PM

#21

twistedcherokee

Road Warrior

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 1,350

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Check the starter bolts to see if they are loose, I think there was a bulletin out for changing the torque on the bolts. Got a friend that did that a couple of times (no crank), he checked his bolts after I told him about the bulletin & they were loose. Has not had a problem since. Good luck

Toby

Aug 13, 2011 | 07:52 PM

#22

bnfzep

Intermediate

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 49

Likes: 0

From: Alexandria, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by soft 02

Time to clean up the solinoid contact washer in the starter. If you hit it and it worked its due to wear on the solinoid and you dont even need to remove the starter. A little work with a file and your done.

It may be obvious, but be sure to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery before gaining access to the solenoid. It is wired directly to the battery and remains live regardless of the position of the ignition switch. Sorry if this is common sense, but it is worth noting.

Aug 13, 2011 | 07:56 PM

#23

RANGER73

Club Member

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 15,420

Likes: 7,118

From: Beyond Fucital

Dude just replace the relay. Just because it's clicking doesn't mean it's closing the contact between post 30 and 87 on the relay. The reason I know this is because I just tested and repaired the relay on my bike.

Last edited by RANGER73; Aug 13, 2011 at 09:52 PM.

Aug 13, 2011 | 09:09 PM

#24

soft 02

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 66,948

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From: TOAK western branch

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnfzep

2nd that! And I would only chase the soliniod after confirming a good battery and connections and relay and fuse and switch and fob and starter bolts.

Aug 14, 2011 | 05:35 AM

#25

bbflhrs

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 265

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From: Mandeville, Louisiana

All good suggestions but since it the bike started after hitting the solenoid wouldn't that point to the solenoid as the problem? How could the relay switch be bad, and then work after hitting the solenoid? I would very much like that to be the problem as it is an easy fix.

Aug 14, 2011 | 11:38 AM

#26

RANGER73

Club Member

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 15,420

Likes: 7,118

From: Beyond Fucital

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbflhrs

I thought it was the relay you were hitting. Check the connections on the starter. Make sure you disconnect the neg. terminal on the battery first. There's not much room under there, don't want to short anything out. As stated earlier, if you jump a positive to the green from the starter relay that will energize the starter solenoid, jump it 6 or 8 times, if the starter turns every time you've ruled out the starter solenoid and your back to the relay.

You can pull the relay out of the plug enough to get test leads on the terminals to check input and output voltages.

Aug 14, 2011 | 12:51 PM

#27

bbflhrs

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From: Mandeville, Louisiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by RANGER73

I guess I am confused. The relay I'm talking about is in the fuse box beneath the side panel. Isn't that the relay? Since I hit the solenoid yesterday, the bike has started every time. I probably started it 5 or 6 times just to see if I could duplicate the problem.

Aug 14, 2011 | 06:04 PM

#28

RANGER73

Club Member

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 15,420

Likes: 7,118

From: Beyond Fucital

No, the solenoid is on the starter. The relay is next to the fuse box. You need the relay because the start button on the bar can't handle the starter load.
If that's the thing your hitting, it's a small box, about 1" square. That's the relay, it clicks when you push the start button.

Last edited by RANGER73; Aug 14, 2011 at 06:08 PM.