Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

starter issue

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 7, 2014 | 05:20 PM
  #31  
Boomer1143's Avatar
Boomer1143
Road Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 191
From: Boise, Idaho
Default

Battery needs renewed due to age.
Starter button needs replaced as you are getting 12volts on both sides without engaging button. This is causing the starter to run "by itself"
If you want to check the cables for voltage drop "put the meter leads between the battery post and where the cables connect either to the starter or the ground point." Then engage the starter and the meter will read the voltage that is dropped between those 2 points. I would look for .5 volts or less to be dropped.
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2014 | 05:58 AM
  #32  
flht2009's Avatar
flht2009
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: chicago
Default

Originally Posted by Boomer1143
Battery needs renewed due to age.
Starter button needs replaced as you are getting 12volts on both sides without engaging button. This is causing the starter to run "by itself"
If you want to check the cables for voltage drop "put the meter leads between the battery post and where the cables connect either to the starter or the ground point." Then engage the starter and the meter will read the voltage that is dropped between those 2 points. I would look for .5 volts or less to be dropped.
I picked up a new switch yesterday and a new battery today or tomorrow
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2014 | 08:15 AM
  #33  
Expat1's Avatar
Expat1
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 4
From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
Default

Originally Posted by flht2009
I picked up a new switch yesterday and a new battery today or tomorrow
There should be a starter relay between the switch (push-button) and the starter motor solenoid. This small relay can overheat and respond with a delay. In such case it will not stop sending 12V to the starter solenoid as expected.

If you disconnect the starter relay once the engine runs you isolate the starter solenoid coil. The output_voltage on the (lower) starter solenoid contact must return to ground as soon as the coil is no longer activated.

A rule of thumb:
- Your little switch can handle 0.5 Amp to power the relay,
- the relay (inside the fuse holder) is designed for 25 Amps to power the solenoid,
- the solenoid will easily handle 350 Amps or the full Cold Cranking Amps of the battery.

The starter motor is 1.6 KW or 160 Amps under 10 Volts. A cold start will briefly draw 2.5 times the nominal intensity >> 160x2.5 == 400 Amps
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ddm502001
EVO
24
Sep 24, 2016 12:18 PM
arizonapete
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
1
May 24, 2011 03:13 PM
bikerlaw
EVO
12
Aug 9, 2010 12:28 AM
vetto
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
6
Feb 26, 2010 05:29 PM
dirtyboy
Ironhead
16
Jun 7, 2009 05:45 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:47 PM.

story-0
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-8
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE