Stopped for gas, then won't start
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 189
Likes: 4
From: Kansas
Stopped for gas, then won't start
2007 Ultra
Left work this afternoon and rode about 1/2 mile or so to the gas station. Filled tank, ignition on, start-stop switch to run, wait for light to go out, hit starter and NOTHING. Verified in neutral, clutch in. . . Went through all of that many times and still no joy. Finally gave up and had it towed home. Preliminary checks find the starter relay clicks when the start button is pushed and volt meter shows battery voltage at the green wire on the starter. Positive cable on starter from the battery reads battery voltage. I suspect the solenoid is probably bad. Everything else (lights, radio, etc) seem to work ok. I intend to check tightness of all electrical connections tomorrow afternoon. If all of that checks good, I'm thinking buy a new starter solenoid. Or is there something else I'm missing here?
Left work this afternoon and rode about 1/2 mile or so to the gas station. Filled tank, ignition on, start-stop switch to run, wait for light to go out, hit starter and NOTHING. Verified in neutral, clutch in. . . Went through all of that many times and still no joy. Finally gave up and had it towed home. Preliminary checks find the starter relay clicks when the start button is pushed and volt meter shows battery voltage at the green wire on the starter. Positive cable on starter from the battery reads battery voltage. I suspect the solenoid is probably bad. Everything else (lights, radio, etc) seem to work ok. I intend to check tightness of all electrical connections tomorrow afternoon. If all of that checks good, I'm thinking buy a new starter solenoid. Or is there something else I'm missing here?
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 455
Likes: 1
From: Deep River ON
How old is the battery? If I remember my electric's correctly (Please correct me), you can get a good voltage reading but still not have enough amps to crank the engine over (you need to do a battery load test. Today's batteries can go with almost no warning. I had one that let me start it in the morning to go to work but would not start in the evening when I wanted to come home.
I had almost exactly the same situation on a prior bike I owned. Stopped along side of the road to rest my butte and it would not start again. Enough voltage to click the starter, light the parking lights, etc., but no starting. It turned out that the battery opened up its circuit. the connection was broken between the sections of plates. determined that by putting it on a charger and having the charger see absolutely nothing connected.
A good Samaritan gave me a ride to a nearby Sears store where I bought a small 12 volt MC battery and duct-taped it to my bike frame. The bike started and got me home in fine shape.
Good luck with your situation and I hope the solution is simple for you!
A good Samaritan gave me a ride to a nearby Sears store where I bought a small 12 volt MC battery and duct-taped it to my bike frame. The bike started and got me home in fine shape.
Good luck with your situation and I hope the solution is simple for you!
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
From: Alberta, Canada
I was wondering about that too, I guess as long as the fuel pump pressures up the system it should start or am I wrong?
I push started my old 82 Low Rider a few times but that was no where near the same as the OP's 2007 Ultra.
I had the same thing happen to my 82 LR, wouldn't start after fueling, but the bolt for one of the battery posts had vibrated loose and fell out. Luckily I carried some lockwire in my tool pouch, it worked until I got another bolt.
I push started my old 82 Low Rider a few times but that was no where near the same as the OP's 2007 Ultra.
I had the same thing happen to my 82 LR, wouldn't start after fueling, but the bolt for one of the battery posts had vibrated loose and fell out. Luckily I carried some lockwire in my tool pouch, it worked until I got another bolt.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 974
Likes: 13
From: Chesapeake Virginia
When I picked up my bike from the dealer it would not start and they had to put a new battery in. I watched them do it and decided not to let them ever work on my bike. I did not notice when the mech tightened the positive terminal if he tried to rotate the wire lug. A few weeks later I was disconnecting the battery and the bolt was real hard to get out. When it finally came out the 2 threads on the end were buggered up and there was fretting on the wire lug. The bolt from the new battery he took out of the accessory bag was too long and bottomed in the battery terminal wiping the thread and never completely tightening the wire lug. I had to drill and tap the battery terminal oversize to fix a brand new battery. So be sure to try to move the lug after you tighten it up to be sure it is tight. It should not move under pretty heavy pressure.
Also be careful tightening the battery wire on your starter solenoid. If you rotate the stud it will not align properly with the contact disc inside the solenoid and cause pretty high amp draws on start up.
Also be careful tightening the battery wire on your starter solenoid. If you rotate the stud it will not align properly with the contact disc inside the solenoid and cause pretty high amp draws on start up.