On a 1989 flhtc will not startat all, put a new starter solnoid on, done a voltage drop test? Need some help figuring out whats wrong!

Some electrical testing should be done on the starter circuit , connection's , cable's etc..... Voltage drop testing , Looking at wiring diagram's to see what all is involved in the starter circuit for your vehicle. Drains your battery when ? Driving ,sitting over night ? Parastic draw on electrical system ? Do you know how to test automotive electrical circuit's ? If not your best bet mite be to take your vehicle to a qualified repair shop.
Starter Voltage Drop
How to voltage drop test starter motor circuit

When turning the key to start measure for B+voltage at the S terminal on the starter solenoid . If no B+ voltage possible bad park neutral safety switch . check For B+ voltage at the heavy gage battery cable on the starter while trying to cranking the engine , less then battery voltage , bad cable . Find starter voltage drop testing on youtube , watch the video . Also starter circuit testing .

Battery ? battery cables ? Test the starting system , voltage drop starting system ! go on you tube a check out voltage drop testing starting system .

To determine if you need a starter you would first do some electrical tests at the starter relay an do voltage drop testing of the starter circuit ! Without doing these test I could not say one way or another ! What solenoid did you replace ? Does yours have one on the inside of the right fender or on the starter ? Starter Voltage Drop

Hi Tiff , you need to do some voltage testing ,this is the best way to find out what is wrong ! It's called voltage drop testing ! You have a battery , a starter an battery cables connecting the two ! Battery cables can corrode inside the insulation where you can't see it ! You need a volt meter to do it , you can buy one for $ 10.00 at radio shack or a auto parts store ! I will send a link for a youtube video on how to do it . Does the starter click when you try to start it ? Voltage Drop Testing Voltage Drop Test Delco Remy Tech Tip

You could have a bad starter ground but more likely you have a bad solenoid. Do voltage drop testing to find the problem for sure.

First do a voltage reading on the battery and note what it is.

Using a voltmeter attach the red meter lead to the most positive part of the circuit, which would be the positive post of the battery and attach the black meter lead to the final destination or component in the circuit (if testing a starter circuit this would be the terminal on the starter, not the solenoid). THEN try to activate the starter and observe the meter reading. The meter will read the voltage dropped or the difference in potential between the source and the destination. An ideal circuit voltage drop reading would be 1 volt or less. If there is an open in the circuit (i.e. NO electricity is reaching the terminal) the voltmeter should read source voltage volts which means all the voltage was dropped. A normal good starter circuit should not show more than a one volt drop. If more than 1 volt is dropped there is a problem somewhere in the circuitry before the starter terminal. In this case leaving the red voltmeter lead on the battery positive post, move the negative voltmeter lead to the solenoid stud where the battery cable attaches and activate the starter circuit again. If the voltage reading is now 1 volt or less clean, repair, tighten the starter solenoid to starter terminal stud connections and test again and if no change clean/repair the internal solenoid contacts or replace the solenoid with a new/good one. If there is still a voltage drop greater than 1 volt move the negative voltmeter lead from the solenoid terminal stud to the actual battery cable terminal end at the solenoid terminal stud and again activate the starter circuit. If there is a 1 volt or less reading the battery cable terminal end and/or solenoid terminal stud and/or the connection between the two is faulty, loose, corroded or etc. Clean and tighten and retest. If there is still more than a 1 volt reading on the voltmeter the problem is a loose or corroded or otherwise bad connection between the battery cable terminal end and the battery positive post or the battery cable itself is bad. Clean and tighten the battery cable terminal and battery positive post and test again. If there is still more than a one volt reading on the voltmeter the battery cable is bad and will need to be replaced.

If there is less than a 1 volt reading when the test is done at the starter terminal the circuit up to that point is good so the next step will be to do a negative or ground circuit voltage drop test by connecting the negative or black voltmeter lead to the most negative point which is normally the negative battery post (or the closest thing thereto if, like some Sportsters, the battery post is hard or impossible to get to) and then connect the positive or red voltmeter lead to the starter mounting studs. Then activate the starter circuit again and if the voltage reading is greater than 1 volt clean the battery negative cable ends and battery post and negative cable to motorcycle frame or other grounding point, tighten same and similarly the starter mounting points and studs because there is a problem with the starter ground (could be looseness, corrosion, powder coat/paint problems etc). If the voltage reading is 1 volt or less than 1 volt in this test the ground circuit is okay and it will be necessary to perform a starter current draw test on the vehicle (and/or a starter current free draw test on the bench). If the results are within the specifications for the starter in these tests remove the spark plugs, raise the rear wheel so it can spin unimpeded, put the transmission in 5th gear and rotate the rear wheel to check for engine, transmission, primary and/or crankshaft resistance/bind. If the results are not within the amperage specifications for the particular starter replace or repair the starter motor to bring within the system amperage specifications.

What size engine 3.3 or 3.5 L ? Without testing ,would only be guessing . You need to look at a wiring to see what all is involved in the starting system for your vehicle. Then using a DVOM - digital volt ohm meter test the electrical circuits . Free wiring diagrams here http://www.bbbind.com/free_tsb.html
Enter the vehicle info. year , make ,model and engine size . Under system click engine then under subsystem click on starting . Then click the search button then the blue link . Looking at the wiring diagram you will see a number of componets . Ign.switch ,when turned to start sends B+ voltage through the coil side (control side )of the starter motor relay .This would close the contacts sending B+ voltage from fuse A - 20 amp to the starter solenoid engaging the starter . If you look at the control side again , at the end , you will see the PCM - this is the engine computer . If it see's that the vehicle is in park or neutral it will supply a ground to the control side energizing the starter motor relay .
The battery maybe new ,but what about the connections and the cables ? Voltage drop testing the cables and connections should be done .
Starter Voltage Drop
How to voltage drop test starter motor circuit
plus testing for power and control of the starter motor relay should be done . Do you know what a relay is and how it works ?
Relays Understanding Diagnosis and Testing Relayed Circuits Pt1

If the battery is ok - the starter might need some shimms..
Easy enough.. Pop off the starter - put a few shimms in whre it bolts on..

sounds a lot like the starter is tired, likely windings are shorted. Remove it and either have it tested or replace it.Quick check: If battery is good & fully charged, put a volt meter across the terminals and check voltage drop. Volts cranking should not go below 10.

Chech the electrical circuit from the ignition key to the starter motor
To test this circuit an automotive test light is needed.
Attach one end of the test light to engine ground and the other end at the starter trigger terminal of the starter solenoid.
The test light should illuminate when the ignition switch is activated (crank engine over).
If the test light illuminates the starter motor/solenoid has failed and needs to be replaced.
If the test light does not illuminate suspect a neutral safety switch or clutch safety switch if provided.
A wiring diagram is needed to trace power from the ignition switch through the safety switch and down to the starter solenoid.
Replace failed components as needed and recheck system.