Harley Davidson Common Starter Problems Summary and Fixes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- There are a few very common HD Starter problems. It starts with pushing the start button on only hearing a "click". It's a quick summary of these problems and the fixes for them
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This video saved me from completely replacing the starter on my '94 Softail. Cleaned up the ground and now she fires right up. Thank you!!!!!!!
Nice ❤😊
So me👍👍👍
NEEDED this video today. Perfectly explained and accurate to what was wrong. Starter was good, cleaned brushes and reinstalled. Power at starter was 12.8v, relay has crap ground wire and l replaced with much larger. Still a click click. Then replaced relay with known good. Cranked right up after 4 yrs of a no start. Now time to rebuild the carb. Thx bro
Nice ❤😊
God bless you, sir! Swapped out all of the oil hoses on my brother's 85 sportster 1000 xlx and wouldn't crank over. Was that little ground wire. Thank you for this in-depth video it proved quite valuable!
You said you hope this video helps someone. I have shared this video 3/4 times to the FXR Alpha page . There are over 11,000 FXR fanatics on that page. Every once in awhile I see a guy asking about his FXR click. I share this video to the page. This video has helped me and at least several other guys on the FB page. So thank you once again.
Good ❤😊 bro
Good video! I'm an old mechanic and will refer non-mechanics to this video. A heavier conductor is a very good idea. So are the pushbutton solenoid end covers, and the cheap ones (I've installed a variety) work fine. In emergencies you can safely remove the solenoid end cover and use the plastic end of a screwdriver to push the solenoid into contact to start the bike. Either pocket the solenoid core and the long spring which rides on it, or reinstall cover. Denso OSGR starters are metric. The cover screws vary (aftermarket starters often use socket head fasteners) with some being 7mm (that size has no inch-spec wrench interchange). Others look like Phillips but are really JIS on which Phillips drivers usually work. Keihin carbs also use JIS screws so if you work on those have a basic JIS set. Vessel make good ones which are cheap on Amazon etc.
THANK YOU!!! I just took three bolts outta the solenoid cover and used a platic thingy to push the solenoid in and it started!! Now I KNOW what the problem is!! Never knew you could do that!! The first time the plunger and the spring popped out Second time I held it in and she started!!! Thank you so much. sometimes I get more info from the comments like I did today!!!
Really appreciate your time and effort in making this vid. I wish I had found it about 3 months ago before I had been able to get a ride to the Harley shop. Now Im out over 500 bucks and Im still stranded with no way to go because I was convinced that it was a problem with my TSSM module that has been OBSOLETE from Harley for years now so I was told. I paid 200 for one from up north Im in Georgia by the way. Now it still doesnt start up because I have to get it to the Harley dealer so they can marry the new part to my 2003 Dyna superglide. They have made the part OBSOLETE now like its unimportant but yet they require me to bring it to them to get it to ever start again when I have to replace the TSSM. IF YOU ARE JUST AS CONFUSED AS ME THEN PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND!!! THANKS AGAIN BRO FOR THE GREAT HELP AND KNOWLEDGE YOU OFFERED FOR FREE!!😊
Excellent information on the starter issues. Thank you so much.
I'm working on my father's 95 Harley Electra glide. This is exactly the problem I'm having, I thought it was the starter but the starter is actually working fine when I hot wire it. But this particular problem I have to look into as you say you can hear a click. Me too. So this has given me a lot of helpful information, thank you for posting.
Good bro 😊❤
Good bro 😊😊😊😊
Your video saved me from disassembling half my bike for a starter removal. When I attached my multimeter lead to the green wire on the solinoid and attached the other lead to the negitive ground on the battery, then hit the starter switch, to my surprise the bike almost started up while having it up in the air on my bike jack! At this point, I want to belive there may be some corrosion in the green ground wire and I may as well upgrade it to a 12 gauge wire as you suggested. THANK YOU IMMENSELY!!!
That green wire above the starter is the ground? I’m getting 12v there when I hit my start button, but no start :/
Thank YOU!! Saved me from hauling my grease barge back home over an hour away! 9.99 at napa, 10 minutes later rolling
One of the better videos out there for this particular issue on the Sportsters... Many thanks.
That’s Blasphemy! It’s an FXR, just the greatest motorcycle the company ever built!
So glad I found your video. You have same set up as me on my 1991 fxrs-sp.. I did a bench test on the starter and it engages great. Now to chase the others problems you mentioned..thks!
Great video . Step by step and done slowly to understand. Have same trouble with mine right now. Going to get battery checked first.
Good bro ❤😊❤
Thanks again for your video and knowledge and understanding. I have a 74 FLH and it will not start, no clicking nothing. The battery is brand new and fully charged and the starter relay is brand new. Along with brand new points and a brand-new ignition coil and the condenser. Just to be sure I even replaced the starter button as it is 50 years old. In desperation, I checked the grounding wire from the starter relay to the transmission stud and saw that it was very average at best and I'm going to replace that with a heavier gauge as you suggested and we will see if that works. Thanks again.
Thank you! Ive been thru all you showed, encreased wire size on relay grd, it cranked!!!
Starter relay went bad on my 83 FXWG when In Japan. Lucky I was still young. Kick Started it Japan and Philippines. Now I keep electric start good. Thanks for the video!
This is a 5-star outstanding video... thanks!!!
You were crystal clear, easy to understand, didn't rush or waste time babbling. You were methodical and left no stone unturned .... however - I went through every step, rebuilt the solenoid, replaced the relay, checked and cleaned all wiring, and my bike still only CLICKS - very loud forceful clicks indeed. The starter simply won't engage.
Change the relay
@@tinbenderbear3248 Thanks but it ended up being one of the 6 connectors under the ignition switch. (chrome on/off gas tank switch has 6 post connections)
Thank you for this video,,,,had this trouble and began with the relay…cleand the contacts and rooooar..👍
Good video sir, but the #12 ground wire to the start relay you put in is only there for the coil of the relay and has nothing to do with a ground to the starter or starter solenoid. The solenoid is grounded through the mounting of the starter as well as it's own ground wire. An 18AWG wire is plenty big enough to run to the relay ground.
You are very correct.
Very good video. Thank you very much. Simple and well filmed
Yes, amazing how the stupid stuff is the hardest to find, people tend to overthink stuff a lot, good video brother!
A valuable video. I’m just starting to troubleshoot my 2004 right now.
2007 Heritage here. These are my symptoms of starter problems.
When I bought the Bike ( From Private Party) It started OK, sometimes kicking back on the starter and sometime weak starter motor. I am not a mechanic, Thinking this was normal.
Then one day I stopped to take a break, turned the Bike off got something to drink. Got on the Bike and tried to start. (CLICK CLICK CLICK)
Had to call TOW truck for a JUMP start, Driver said sounds like a bad ground connection.
When I got Bike HOME, Took the seat off followed the ground wires to the frame. took them off, used some FINE sandpaper to clean matching surfaces.
Reassemble and tighten bolts. The Bike starts like NEW.
Symptoms, WEAK STARTER,KICK BACK ON STAERTER, Sometime clicking.
Ground terminals were Black and corroded.
RLH 54,,,,99 Evo, Fat Boy here. Bought it from Harley and it very often would kick back on starter like timing was too advanced. Put new battery in and pinion gear tore up. Put in Spike starter, new jackshaft and gear and soon ring and pinion gears break teeth. Took it to dealer to get fixed. They said my work was good but didn't check timing like I asked. $700 + and 400 mi. later ring and pinion tore up again. Fixing starter myself now and putting in all new Harley ignition and time it. Thanks for info, I'll check the grounds. Did anyone else have these symptoms?
Just starting on getting my RK back on the road. Your video has just saved me hrs of head scratching🙄😜😪 - many thanks for posting this.😎
Lmao head scratching Is were i am now
Thanks a lot for these "simple" tips. I was just short of tearing the the whole thing apart... anyway, new ground wire and she starts. Thanks again
Nice, you tell a great story. love it! one thing simple but effective and true good job!
Nice bro 😊❤
Thank you so much for this video, might have the same issue with my ‘86 sportster
Great 1 of a kind video! Thanks. Now where do the other 2 wires go? I have a no click no start and Im thinking of bypassing the ECM and directly connecting my start button to a fused relay so I can use the handle bar button to star the bike again. 2005 RK EFI no alarm.
Very good video. Thanks! Any ideas for the enrichener/choke proper adjustment cv carb 05 Sportster. Replaced cable cant get adjustment right? Thanks
excellent video I have the exact same symptoms on a 92 Sporty xlh1200. New battery, new starter/new solenoid, new battery cables ... new relay .. and still click:click:click, sometimes the solenoid clicking other times the relay clicking. It sounds and "Feels" like a bad ground - hopefully I can follow that connector under the relay and replace that thin gauge wire.
thanks for posting this - I was out of ideas till now.
rcanoli99 did that work?!
Get a push button on the starter works every time. 😜
Thanks. Helped me get my bike going :)
Thanks for the info. I have a ghost problem. My bike wouldn't start. Can tell if a heard a click or not. Headlight on was running then stopped. Nothing from the start button. Monkeyed with stater relay mine is a round one with 3 nutted on wires. And I have an after market starter motor. Flag terminal was loose. Tighten connections it started rode for about a week and a half and boom. Same problem. The volt measure is a great help I'm gonna try. Thank you.
I had the same issue on my 94 fxdwg after not using it over winter and thought it was the battery so I fully charged it up and tried it again but it just clicked ? Hmmm it was fine before and had never had issues starting then I remembered taking the battery out to do something and I checked the earth wires and the main earth wire wasn’t the first one against the battery! So swapped them so it was ! Tightened them up and it started first time ! Sorted
Thank you. You were very clear. I appreciate the tips.
Thanks, simple when you know, process of elimination, way to go!
Cool I needed a start point my 1989 is acting up with the same problem Thank you going to get at it
1990 Fat boy similar issue when I crank it I hear a click and everything goes out for a few seconds
Thank you for the information; a great resource!
Great and very helpful Vedic...Thanks!
Think you solved my issue I turn and the starter grinds sounds like it's not strong enough to turn the motor over
Awesome video, thanks very much for your informative explanation of the starting system.
Glad it was helpful!
Well done and a beautiful bike too. Rich
Anybody have a tip on how to remove the connectors from the relay plug? Thanks
The video did not fix my problem. Liking and subscribing because of the way you explained things. I feel less stressed than before I watched your video. :-)
Thank you very much! I thought it was the battery. Had it checked. It was good. I changed the voltage regulator, main fuse, and new battery. Still having trouble. Found your video. So very helpful.
I have a 1995 Roadking with screaming Eagle heads & big bore on a Evolution engine. And, S&S Super E carb.
Good video Man. Thank you.
Great Video, Brother. Thanks. Saves, time , and good education, for this problem. Mine was nothing at the button on the handle bar. Comments welcome.. I will work this through. Stan, Big Island Hawaii
Get a push button on the starter motor. Works every time.
great video, thanx mate.
Thanks buddy I think you just solved my problem👍
Ive been having some weird starts. Most times it's whencold starting on a 2015 Iron 883 Sportster. It will start turning over than hesitate and my speedo will briefly turn off while the bike makes a slicing noise combined with I think might be a backfiring or just some abrupt noise in my mufflers. Sometimes wont start but will on 2nd attempt. When it does that it also shoots the rpms higher than usual on start up like up to 2500 rpms when normally it will go to around 1800.
Could it just be my battery? Maybe the starter relay or starter? What about voktage regulator? Idk, this is my first bike ever so im new to this and dont know how bikes behave when batteries start to go bad. Battery seems fine to me personally but again ive only been riding for 2 years now so my experience is limited. I just got all new oils, spark plugs and wires but it was doing all this before the fresh service too and still doing it although seems to have gotten a little more frequent.
my 06 road king has this very issue, i will be checking this out tomorrow and will post findings
Thanks for posting
Hope this helps me I got a fsts that was sitting in the weather for 24 years.
Good video. Thanks for sharing
This is an excellent video.
You are the man. This was very informative! thanks
Love to see the bike in full and started bro thanks for your time on making this ed vid
I liked this video a lot. I hope you don’t mind I shared it to an FXR page. Thanks for making it
Thank you I'm having the very same issue out of my 98 Fatboy. I'm an old panhead/shovlehead guy most my mechanic skills are there and this helped.
Yeah, it’s usually the ground. Thanks for the info though. !!! 😎😎
Get a test light or run power to your headlight and use suspected bad ground wire as the ground and see if the light is bright. You can do a resistance check on the ground wire with a meter but the light is a better test because it load tests the wire.
VERY WELL EXPLAINED THANK YOU
great vid so the relay switches ground on the solenoid . ? because just grounding the relay coil wont make or break the high current switch ? anyway Im trying to deal with the same problem on a frinds bike the starter is brand new as is most of the bike the thing is my clicking is a repeated click click click .. perfect batt etc. the relay is the cheapest relay ever Ihoping its that and not the ecu
or something
Outstanding
Great info😎👍
Thanks Man!
that black ground wire was ok for a relay ground. thats not the starter ground. the appearance is its not big enough. it just needs to grounded to frame though.
still a good video..
He was just saying until he replaced this ground his FXR still wouldn’t start after other problems were eliminated.
Thank you, very helpful
Thank you, Awesome video,, well done
I got a 2004 custom ,I can't find a starter relay anywhere on my bike,I have the clicking ,but no crank? Help ,all I can see is a flat black bid 4 inch long by 1.5 by l inch box ,with wires going into it
I'm not even getting a click, what else could the problem be other than the obvious things? also, how would I bypass all ignition wires and Hotwire it,
Beautiful! Thank you
i have a 68 sporty I have good battery hear click but will not turn over even with kick start what would be the problem
My starter is spinning but not engaging, had the same problem about a year ago, replaced the jackshaft, the bushing, and the starter clutch gear and the problem went away untill the winter months rolled in, I live in the south so winters don't really get too cold to ride, but I started having that problem again it spins but doesn't engage the engine, anyone got any suggestions?
thank you I will try these things!
I'm having a similar problem, if you continued to hit your start button would the bike eventually start? That's my issue right now.
I'm having the same issue right now, did you figure out what it was on your bike?
@@shammydanzi I traced the wires and i found a pinch in the wires. try doing that. go from starter button on the bars all the way to the relay and see what you find
@@shammydanzi i also replaced the relay idk if that had to do anything but when i raised my tank i def pinched the wire
Ok cool I'll check it out, thank you!
Thx however i have this same problem my bikes a 1995fxsts softail all it does now with the new cylonoid pluncher i jnstalled, it just shoots flames out the ehaust and it makes a crazy poling sound then it wont start again it bas a S&s carb , then when i try the start button on the bars i get cljc cljc clic nothing s.os llease help where would my starter relay be located on thjs 1995
Thank you 🙏
AWESOME VIDEO!!
I own a 2003 HD FXD Dyna Super Glide with only 4k miles and I believe I'm already having this problem. I just installed a new battery yesterday and it started fine then it started "clicking". Disappointed a solenoid or starter would go out so soon. The bike is pristine, but it's going up for sale as soon as it's fixed. I need reliability, and HD doesn't cut the mustard.
Thank you for a great video!
I have a problem with the bike shutting down while riding. I turn the ignition switch and it restarted. I pushed the kill switch down and it restarted. The ignition switch worked then it broke contact again. I held the kill switch and it backfired once and then started running. I rode it to the store and no more problems. this has been happening once in a while when I go down to the store come out to start it and start riding and it will shut off. Fool with the kill switch or the ignition and it restarts. Sometimes it will take more than one try but it usually starts and takes me home. I'm wondering if it is a relay going bad?
I had an 2006 Ultra that did the same thing. Turned out to be the main system fuse. I think it was a 40a fuse.
You nailed it. Thank you.
Ya know, I have this love/hate relationship w/TH-cam. Mainly because 95% of ALL videos are A JOKE & ARE GARBAGE ! It’s VERY RARE when I stumble across a video like this one here, that has met its
Intended purpose. This is such invaluable knowledge about understanding why Harley’s starting-systems get compromised. A typical TH-cam video about this same issue, would have only been focused on the person doing the videos Ego. What I mean by that, is that 95% of ALL TH-cam videos are recorded ONLY to “TRY” and make the person who’s recording the video, look intelligent ! Look grandiose ! To look more important than he truly is ! Are you getting my pout !?? I’m sure you are. Anyway, a big thank you to the owner of THIS informative video, for being so unselfish & very helpful to all the people who rely on TH-cam to teach them about the “How to” side of life. I build custom Harley’s. And I’m always looking for the newest, latest & greatest “Trick” of the (Custom fabrication) trade & side of my mechanical life. I’ve been told many many times that I should start sharing all my years experience & knowledge on TH-cam. And I will, as soon as I find the time ! Because I enjoy seeing others learning the COORECT way, the CORRECT method, the CORRECT approach, of doing something ! Especially so, when it’s mechanical !!!! There are SOOOOOO MANY “wanna-be’s” out there, who are spreading what I call the “Dumb-fucker” disease ! This disease is when someone, who doesn’t have 1/2 a brain to begin with, goes ahead and records himself performing a “How to” video, and every step of the video is either wrong and/or half-assed, and/or cutting corners ! The wanna be recording the video is only doing so to TRY & MAKE HIMSELF LOOK INTELLIGENT AND/OR IMPORTANT ! When, in all reality, the person recording the video, shouldn’t even be allowed to post a video, because they are not intelligent enough, and/or experienced enough. There are WAAAAAY TOO MANY GARBAGE VIDEOS ON TH-cam ! So, essentially, these “Wanna-be” mechanics & fabricators, are only spreading the INCORRECT WAY and/or METHOD of “HOW TO” do something ! So, instead of CORRECTING the INCORRECT methods & practices of doing something mechanical, these losers are spreading the INCORRECT METHOD ! Hence, it’s called “The Dumb-fucker” disease ! Because all these wanna-VW’S are accomplishing, is teaching all these innocent people, how to perform a certain task THE WRONG WAY !!!
So, thank you once again for staying true to HELPING w/the CORRECT way of troubleshooting a starting issue w/a Harley.
Richard McGinley of RMCUSTOMS
Good video, thank's
Very nice
good info thanks for sharing
Is this a Harley Davidson FXR?
yes, 1990............thanks
having same problem, think it's the ground as well. What should i physically attach the ground wire to? Ground to frame? or ground to a bracket? looking in my clymer manual it doesn't say it's a frame ground and the lastguy grounded it to the starter motor which is what i think messed it up.
In my case it was a frame ground. When I removed the screw, I could see that the "star' washer had pushed past the paint is a few small spots. With enough years passing it slowly oxidized and didn't provide a good ground. Add to that a flimsy gage factory wire and it made things worse. You can try making it a good frame ground and see if that helps.. Make sure it is a "ground" wire.
I have a 2015 low rider and cannot find this relay, can someone tell me where it is located??
Great video thank you
My bike was not starting, it turnover till we jumped it then it would start up, take the jumpers off it would die out. Bought a new battery and was starting right up for the first day...sat overnight and wouldn’t turnover. Jump it and it fire right up.
Uhm… that ground wire is only used to give the RELAY a ground… has nothing to do with it cranking… it’s like a tiny solenoid.
I MECHANICALLY RETARDED. Thank you for explaining it so a two year old can understand
My problem is I'm not even hearing the click, this problem just started happening and I just got a brand new relay and still nothing
Look up harley Davidson click of dread you will find the answer.
I wish my Twinkie had a kick starter like my shovel head did. Eliminated starter problems
How about if I turn right it dies turn left it will start back up
Damn! Your voice, John Malkovich is that you? :D
I have an 07 sof tail standard would one of those be on my harley
It's always a wire
Yup, just ask my wife! Never fails