Broke down in MT

[Raywood]

Hey guys, just got up after my first night in a real bed in over a week. Thanks for all the suggestions. Heading out to the garage to start on the solenoid.
When attempting to push start it I do hit the start button but never been successful at getting it going.

Have some great stories to tell later when I do my ride report. Some good pictures also.

Weather looks terrible today and tomorrow for most of my route home so not dried out yet.

 

[Chopper Dave]

damn Ray! just saw this thread....haven't been on in a while....hope you get your scoot fixed....did you ever replace your battery? I remember you saying you were going to a while ago...but didn't know if you did or not...

 

[Mongo]

Forget push starting it? I had the stater go out on mine, no compression releases, after wearing my poor brother out trying to push start the SOB we had the great idea of pull starting it. We used one of those tie down straps. I wrapped it around the center of the handle bars twice, making sure to not over lap the strap held the end in my left and he took of SLOWLY go up to speed, let the strap go, he pulled away I stood up dropped the clutch and slammed my ass down on the seat and the bitch fired up. Just make sure the person pulling you starts of slowly and pulls away when you let go of the strap. If you run over the strap it will send their ass to the ground. I did that to my brother on our bicycles when we were kids, pedal broke. Now that I think about it I owe my brother a beer. Oh and in 2nd or even 3rd gear if it's wet.

 

[shovelcowboy]

Hey Ray, We feel your pain, Brother! Bikes just don't seem to be made to swim (soaking) and I'll bet we've all had rain mess up something electrical. Hope it is an easy fix and not too much more rain on to home!

Does this look familiar!! Shovelcowboy:up:

Courtesy of D Mann

 

[Raywood]

Thanks for photo Shovel. I was there! :angry:

Well guys looks like it's just a dead battery. Just like last year prior to Daytona I wondered it I should change it out and it died in Daytona. This year I thought the same but went on anyway. Only got 7.6 volts this morning trying to start it. My BDM battery from March last year has given up. But it did a lot of starts for me so that is good. Now got to get over to the HD shop and spend another $99 I didn't have.

 

[Mongo]

Q: You know what HD stands for?

A: Hundred Dollars. Anything you need for a Hundred Dollars.

 

[Raywood]

Q: You know what HD stands for?

A: Hundred Dollars. Anything you need for a Hundred Dollars.

Yeah, I lived that life for 25 yrs.

You know what I always say "I sure don't miss that ole Harley I had".

 

[BadBrad]

I'm glad it was an easy fix.........for both of us! I was thinking the worst on mine just earlier this week and turned out to be the same thing. Good luck on the rest of your ride home. I'm sure I speak for all when I say, "Show us the pics"!!!!!!!!!!!!! Later Ray

 

[T.Byrd]

Ray, Glad to hear that you found the problem. Costly, but it could have been a lot worst. Good luck on ride home.

 

[Vegas]

Check for 12v on the little green starter wire when you push start.

Yep.....I'd also pull the ehc connectors and see if they have moisture in them if you have 12 volts at the starter when pressing the start button. If you find moisture in the connectors, dry them out and fill them with dielectric grease. Then I would unhook the battery for a minute and reconnect to reset any internal breakers.

Whoops..missed the second page. Make sure you didn't trip your circuit breaker jumping the bike!

 

[TheDeadOne]

Pulled all the gear off and pulled the seat and my battery bug says I have 13.2 volts. Got an attendant at the gas station to give me a jump. Voltage was at 14.5 when attempting to start and it just clicked. Put hand on solenoid and it moved when the start button was pushing in.

Check for 12v on the little green starter wire when you push start.

Yep.....I'd also pull the ehc connectors and see if they have moisture in them if you have 12 volts at the starter when pressing the start button. If you find moisture in the connectors, dry them out and fill them with dielectric grease. Then I would unhook the battery for a minute and reconnect to reset any internal breakers.

Whoops..missed the second page. Make sure you didn't trip your circuit breaker jumping the bike!

If he can feel the solenoid moving when he pushes the start button, the "little green wire" going to the starter(trigger wire) from the EHC, must have 12 volts on it then in order to operate! And evidently by that being said, the EHc must somewhat be operating correctly as well.
Let's see what happens when he gets back with the new battery. I have a suspicion that it's either the hold-in solenoid contacts or to lack of brush contact with the armature if it's anything still.

 

[txchopperguy]

Ray,
Sorry to hear of your difficulties bro...

Just a thought for ya, be sure to check the output voltage of the charging system once you get her up and running. Hate to see a new battery killed becuase it isn't being re-charged properly.

 

[Raywood]

Well guys as I answer most posts here it was the same for me. Just needed a new battery so back up and running and of course its pouring here.

Thanks for the support all. Heading home in the morning and will have a kool trip report to add in a few days with some good pictures.

Take care,
Ray

:2thumbs:

 

[narow37]

good to hear Ray ride safe and cant wait for the report

 

[TheDeadOne]

Out of 2,894 members here on this site,...

WHO'S DA MAN THAT CAN'T BE STOPPED? Rain/Snow/Wind Storms/ "BREAKDOWNS", etc.. or "Anything"!

RAYWOOD!

1,000,000 Miles or "BUST"!

:2thumbs::2thumbs:

 

[txchopperguy]

Be safe out there Ray...Godspeed!

 

[BBChopper]

Solinoid!!! happend to me on the way to Daytona in the rain a few years ago. Newbie try the search!!!!!

At least ya didnt run out of gas!!!!!:roll::roll::roll:

 

[mobsta]

hey gents,i have had plenty times with the clicks at the starter.i dont know if it would help ray with a bad battery but like i said before spyke makes a manual button that takes the place of the solenoid cover.you can start the bike with it when you get the clicks.got mine at mc advantages for 59 bucks.its saved me more than once.just my 2 cents.

 

[jimizee028]

MC Advantages :: Starter Button For 1.0kw, 2.0kw, 2.4kw, 2.6kw and Big Dog® Starters
AND EXACTLY HOW DOES THIS WORK???DOES IT WIRE UP TO SOMETHING INSIDE STARTER???CAN YOU STILL START YOUR BIKE THE NORMAL WAY,AND IF THE SOLENOID CLICKS THEN YOU JUST REACH DOWN AND HIT THIS BUTTON???...PLEASE EXPLAIN,CAUSE I GET THE CLICKS EVERY SO OFTEN........SORRY ONCE again about the caps.....

 

[mobsta]

jimizee,it takes the place of the original solenoid cover and has a push rod type button that you push and manually push the solenoid to engage the starter.mc advantages emailed me the templates for the three styles they make to make sure which one fits.the one for the big dog fit my 04.you do have to push it in alittle hard to over come the spring but its cake.never left me with a tow bill except when the head gaskets blew.