I pulled the manual for my 11 limited. I doubt if your's is wired any different than mine. It looks to me like the place to troubleshoot this is the starter relay.

Pull the connector off and terminal 5 should have a green wire in it. You should show 100 or so ohms to chassis.

There should be a red wire to terminal 3. Turn the ignition on and see if you get 12V to it.

You should have 12V on terminal 2 when you turn the ignition on and push the start button.

If all of these conditions are true, I'd jumper between 5 and 3 and turn the ignition switch on. Be ready to turn it back off though, because the starter will not disengage when you do this if the relay is the problem.

 

Thanks Mike..

The relays the parts guy gave me are the same as the ones they replaced. wish harness connectors were more readily accesible for tracking this down.

 

Thanks Randy..

To clarify, when you say pull the connector off and terminal 5 should be 100 ohm to chasis are you saying to remove the relay and check where the relay plugs in or are you referring to where the wires enter the back of the fuse block? I haven't accessed the back of the fuse block, don't know yet if I can. I'll look at it when I get home.

 

To tell you the truth, I am going by the wiring diagram. I'm not sure how you can get to the connector. I would remove the relay and try to check it where the relay plugs into the harness.

 

Check the mounting bolts on your starter. If they've vibrated loose you'll get symptoms as described. I had same issues with my 09 Ultra until I discovered both had vibrated loose. Remedied the situation by taking both out apply blue locktite and re-tighten. All has been well since.

 

This sounds exactly the problem I had. Pulled into a store, everything worked. Came out, tried to start and the lights worked, fuel pump on, but no start. After several hours going through the wiring, I noticed the ignition switch was not making connection to the start circuit. Replaced the ignition switch. Mine was on a 1999 FLHTCI.

 

How about an update. Did you figure it out?

 

Randy,
It's starting normally again, and I don't know why. Double checked all the fuses and didn't find anything. Decided to take the ignition switch panel off, the panel with the speaker, acc, cruise,spot light switches, to see if i could get to the start switch wiring harness connector to do continuity test across the start switch. Couldn't get to the harness connector, but i did tug abit on the wire bundle at the bottom of the handle bars going into the fairing.

Turned the ignition on and hit the start button and it turns over and starts right up. As far as i know i didn't do anything. Something tells me I'll be having this problem again.

 

I think I would put electric grease on all the connections. Maybe you moved the connections just right to start. It might be that simple to grease all the connectors.

 

I know this was checked, but, sometimes it gets overlooked... The handlebar run/stop switch... was it in the run position ? did it accidentally get bumped while tugging at the wires ?