Clicking & Will not start

BikBit · Jul 4th, 2007, 05:10 PM

Uhhg!

I am a newbie and a dork who needs help after doing something stupid.

My Husband and I were getting ready to go for a ride and his fork bag was not closed so while sitting on my in gear bike (DUH!) I reached over to close it for him. While stretching to close it I let my hand off the clutch (DUH again!!!). Bike lunged forward and tipped. Now it wont start it just clicks.

2004 Sportster 883.

Just call me dumbass!

Any advice?

glider · Jul 4th, 2007, 06:12 PM

Check the kill switch and if that's on, you have to upright the bike and cycle the ignition switch a few times on and off. It's a safety that kills the engine should the bike fall.

glider · Jul 4th, 2007, 06:16 PM

If that don't do it, check the battery connections and possible tighten or remove/clean/replace them and try it. If it is just the solenoid on the starter clicking, chances are that it is the battery connection.
Quick diagnosis is to hold the start button when it clicks for a few seconds and then feel both the battery terminals and see which one is HOT. If it is a bad connection that one will be the hot one but clean them both with a wire brush so they are clean and shiney and reconnect them.

BikBit · Jul 4th, 2007, 07:14 PM

Glider,

Thanks for the quick response and tips. Tried the ignition on and off thing a couple of times. Book said to do that too. Battery connections look good and clean. One thing I didn't mention in my original post was that the engine light on the speedometer comes on when ignition and engine are turned on. Can't figure this thing out. My Husband is checking the relay now.

glider · Jul 4th, 2007, 08:09 PM

Don't go by the LOOKS of the battery terminals. It could look OK but be a bad connection.

Do you mean the engine light comes on when it is running?

That means there is a code set for a fault.

glider · Jul 4th, 2007, 08:15 PM

Not sure if this proceedure will work on the sporty but give it a try. It will tell you where the problem is.

http://www.hdtalking.com/general_tip...ctivation.html

pahunter · Jul 5th, 2007, 06:56 AM

The 04 &up have a tip switch in them. You must turn the key on off on off on to reset the switch Ride Safe Doug

Jul 4th, 2007, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
BikBit New Family Ride: 2004 Sportster XL883 Join Date: Jul 4th, 2007 Posts: 2	Clicking & Will not start Uhhg! I am a newbie and a dork who needs help after doing something stupid. My Husband and I were getting ready to go for a ride and his fork bag was not closed so while sitting on my in gear bike (DUH!) I reached over to close it for him. While stretching to close it I let my hand off the clutch (DUH again!!!). Bike lunged forward and tipped. Now it wont start it just clicks. 2004 Sportster 883. Just call me dumbass! Any advice?

Jul 4th, 2007, 06:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 11,619 My Mood:	Re: Clicking & Will not start Check the kill switch and if that's on, you have to upright the bike and cycle the ignition switch a few times on and off. It's a safety that kills the engine should the bike fall. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me! Last edited by glider : Jul 4th, 2007 at 06:18 PM.

Jul 4th, 2007, 06:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 11,619 My Mood:	Re: Clicking & Will not start If that don't do it, check the battery connections and possible tighten or remove/clean/replace them and try it. If it is just the solenoid on the starter clicking, chances are that it is the battery connection. Quick diagnosis is to hold the start button when it clicks for a few seconds and then feel both the battery terminals and see which one is HOT. If it is a bad connection that one will be the hot one but clean them both with a wire brush so they are clean and shiney and reconnect them. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me! Last edited by glider : Jul 4th, 2007 at 06:39 PM.

Jul 4th, 2007, 07:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
BikBit New Family Ride: 2004 Sportster XL883 Join Date: Jul 4th, 2007 Posts: 2	Re: Clicking & Will not start Glider, Thanks for the quick response and tips. Tried the ignition on and off thing a couple of times. Book said to do that too. Battery connections look good and clean. One thing I didn't mention in my original post was that the engine light on the speedometer comes on when ignition and engine are turned on. Can't figure this thing out. My Husband is checking the relay now.

Jul 4th, 2007, 08:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 11,619 My Mood:	Re: Clicking & Will not start Don't go by the LOOKS of the battery terminals. It could look OK but be a bad connection. Do you mean the engine light comes on when it is running? That means there is a code set for a fault. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

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Jul 4th, 2007, 08:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 11,619 My Mood:	Re: Clicking & Will not start Not sure if this proceedure will work on the sporty but give it a try. It will tell you where the problem is. http://www.hdtalking.com/general_tip...ctivation.html __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Jul 5th, 2007, 06:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
pahunter Play The Throttle Join Date: Oct 24th, 2006 Posts: 320	Re: Clicking & Will not start The 04 &up have a tip switch in them. You must turn the key on off on off on to reset the switch Ride Safe Doug

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