Welcome Area Only New Member Welcome Area Only. Be sure to pop in here and introduce yourself & let us know what Harley Davidson you own. Save your bike related questions for the proper area.

Wont Start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 17, 2013 | 05:29 PM
  #1  
Frankyruby's Avatar
Frankyruby
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Mass
Default Wont Start

So I just bought my first Harley which is a 2005 Sportster with about 20000 miles on it. When I picked it up the seller was able to start it right up. After I purchased it I got it home started it and took it for a very short ride down the street(got to 3rd gear). When I brought it back to my house I tried to start it again but it never turned over. Common sense tells me it is the battery but I wanted to see if anyone might be able to shed some light and let me know if I might be missing something.

Symptoms: Turn key and hit start button and I can hear it tick and it sound like the starter is functioning but I am thinking there might not be enough juice to crack it. Lights come on and horn works. Thoughts?

Thank you!
 
Old Mar 17, 2013 | 05:37 PM
  #2  
VTwin-Goodies's Avatar
VTwin-Goodies
Former Sponsor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,839
Likes: 1,956
From: SoCal
Default

Congratulations on your new bike and welcome to the forum.
 
Old Mar 17, 2013 | 07:11 PM
  #3  
edpnjax's Avatar
edpnjax
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,870
Likes: 4
From: Jacksonville, FL
Default

Welcome from Jacksonville, Florida!
 
Old Mar 17, 2013 | 07:29 PM
  #4  
2011Deluxe's Avatar
2011Deluxe
Banned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 12,594
Likes: 9
From: Bama
Default

Welcome!
 
Old Mar 17, 2013 | 08:12 PM
  #5  
ChickinOnaChain's Avatar
ChickinOnaChain
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
Default

Welcome to the "New Members Area" of the HD Forums from Texas.
 
Old Mar 18, 2013 | 01:07 AM
  #6  
Glockmeister's Avatar
Glockmeister
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,282
Likes: 2
From: Northwestern Nevada
Default

Hello and Welcome to the HDForums.
 
Old Mar 18, 2013 | 06:51 AM
  #7  
blackrex's Avatar
blackrex
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: almost heaven wv
Default

Welcome from almost heaven WV
 
Old Mar 18, 2013 | 07:51 AM
  #8  
JohnnyC's Avatar
JohnnyC
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
Default

I suggest you take off your battery connections and clean them and reconnect and tighten down solid. Also check where the main cables go (starter solenoid & ground to the chassis or starter casing) and consider removing them and cleaning any rust or oxidation, and tighten down solid.

If that doesn't do it for you take the battery to a auto parts store and have them load test the battery. If the battery is good, but low on voltage you may have an issue in the recharging system. You can test for output when it's running. Could be rotor, stator or voltage regulator.

Hopefully it's only the battery connections which is real common issue.

The most important advice I can give you is to get the official HD service manual for your bike. Even if you don't intend on doing your own mechanical work the manual is very important to have.

And welcome to the forum. After 5 posts you can put up pictures.
 

Last edited by JohnnyC; Mar 18, 2013 at 05:46 PM.
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 18, 2013 | 08:00 AM
  #9  
Longhair4life's Avatar
Longhair4life
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 17,900
Likes: 13
From: Hollywood, CA.
Default

Welcome and good luck
 
Old Mar 18, 2013 | 04:59 PM
  #10  
the wild hog's Avatar
the wild hog
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 36,351
Likes: 3,169
From: Jacksonville
Default

Welcome.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:23 PM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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