Harley starter Just tonight went on a little ride. On the way home. My starter started engaging on its own. Now whenever I switch the bike to "Run" the starter engages and turns the motor over. Without me pushing the "Start" button. If anyone has any ideas, please help. Don't know if the relay is going bad. Or Starter, starter switch, etc...

SOURCE: 2005 FXDL (13k mi) starter does not engage

i can solve that... just buy a lighter... and a gasoline.......
1st step.... poor the gas onto you bike...
2nd step.... ignite it....

tahnks junel sabando.. form baybay city Philippines...

SOURCE: No start problem on 07 883 customer sportster.

You need to determine if the solenoid is delivering power to the starter motor terminal when it just clicks. You need to have either a test light or a voltmeter to read 12 volts DC. If, when it clicks, and the meter shows 12 volts at the starter terminal, then the starter motor is in trouble (it could be bad brushes or an open segment on the armature commutator). If you see no voltage, then check the battery side of the solenoid to see if the normally present at all times 12 volts disappears when the starter is tried. If that is so, check the battery cable for a bad wire or connection all the way to the battery. If it stays 12 volts, then the solenoid is bad and should be replaced. Hope that gets you started!

SOURCE: Harley won't start ... starter not working

That clicking sound you are hearing may be a circuit breaker tripping indicating a short circuit somewhere. I think the starter circuit is powered by the ignition circuit. If you have a short circuit in your ignition system the breaker will trip killing power to your ignition, thus the engine dying, and preventing power for the starter circuit preventing the bike from being restarted.

On your bike, I believe there is a chrome coil cover over the coil on the left side of the bike. Check and see if this cover has come loose. I've seen them come loose and fall down on the coil connector on top of the coil shorting it out. If that ain't it, just keep looking, there's a short somewhere. Good Luck

SOURCE: I have a 2000 sportster xlh that wont start.

Sounds like you've done your homework. The clue is the half volt to the "command" wire to the solenoid as long as you were checking the voltage with the wire disconnected. If it was connected, you'll get a faulty reading.

Let's do a test here. Make up a jumper wire long enough to connect to the "command" connection on your starter and go around to the positive post of the battery or the connection where the battery cable connects to the starter. Make certain that your transmission is in neutral or the bike may suddenly lurch doing this test. Momentarily touch the wires to the two points, the "command" wire connection on the starter solenoid and the battery positive post. The starter should engage and start turning the engine over even with the switch in the off position.

If it does, the starter relay is the problem. I've gotten bad NEW parts before. If it does not, then your problem is the starter solenoid. If you look at the large copper contacts in the solenoid, you may see a "crescent" shaped low area in one or both contacts. These will perfectly match the large copper washer on the plunger. If so, they may be burned to the point that the plunger will not pull far enough in with the solenoid but you are able to push it in far enough to make contact. I'd replace the contacts anyway. The kit is not that expensive but make sure your don't install either of the contacts in the solenoid in a "twisted" manner. They must lay flat against the backside of the coil.

Good Luck
Steve

SOURCE: I changed my starter and

Replace the "Bendix" unit on the starter shaft in the primary. It's basically a one-way bearing designed to lock up when turned one way and to freewheel when turned the other. When the starter turns the "Bendix" it locks up but when the engine starts, the Bendix turns the same way but faster. This make it reverse directions in relationship to the starter shaft. When they go bad, they either don't lock up at all or the "jump out" once started turning the engine over.

Do not use a cheap Bendix replacement (made in China). You'll be back in there again in six months if it lasts that long. I like the Accel units made in the U.S.A. Clamp the shaft in a vise with "soft jaws" on it and take the nut off the end of the shaft. It has left handed threads.

Good Luck
Steve