1993 FLHTC won't start

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 1, 2012 | 04:03 PM

#11

mfortkamp

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 400

Likes: 10

From: Buckeye State

My 98 softail did the same thing. Is the click a loud click or faint "soft" click. I replaced the started on the softail and that didnt do anything. It ended up being the relay that hooks up the bar wiring to the solenoid. like $5 at autozone, napa, or orileys. to test it take your volt meter to the input remote side of your starter solenoid and then try to start it. If you have 12.7 volts with it plugged in then it is prolly your solenoid. You have to do this with the wire plugged in otherwise it wont see a load and it doesnt take much to make a voltmeter read 12 volts.

Mar 1, 2012 | 04:05 PM

#12

mfortkamp

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 400

Likes: 10

From: Buckeye State

o and if you want my old starter PM me its still sitting on the shelf... 23000 miles.

Mar 1, 2012 | 05:44 PM

#13

Gato1

Thread Starter

6th Gear

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 14

Likes: 0

From: Camarillo, CA

Very soft click, I think it was coming from under the seat. The click is probably the starter relay NOT the solenoid. I've got the HD manual so I should be able to trace down wiring. I'm new to bikes, spent most of my time working on cars. Its been a learning experience to say the least.

Thanks for the offering up your starter. If mine is bad I'll send you a PM.

Mar 1, 2012 | 06:16 PM

#14

mfortkamp

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 400

Likes: 10

From: Buckeye State

if its a soft click for cheap replace that first. if it was not bad... o well it was 5 bucks not 150 for a new starter

Mar 2, 2012 | 05:51 PM

#15

Gato1

Thread Starter

6th Gear

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 14

Likes: 0

From: Camarillo, CA

Update,

Found the wire at the solenoid loose. In fact when I touched it the wire just fell off. Crimped it a bit and put it back on. Nice and tight now.

Been starting fine the past 5 times.

Also in the past while I held down the start button the starter would engage and disengage a couple of times before the bike would fire up. That problem is gone.

Also there used to be a slight delay after hitting the start button, maybe 1 or 2 seconds before the starter would engage. That problem is gone.

So my previous battery was still probably good. Oh well, got a new dry cell.

And yes its normal for all the dash lights and headlights to turn off while starting the bike. There must be a relay thats tied to the start circuit.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.