Road Glide banner

Bike will not start.

7K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  flint  
#1 ·
Just before Thanksgiving I thought I would get in one more ride, went out to the garage started up the 2013 FLTRU backed her out and shut it down to wait for my wife to get ready. We then got on hit the starter and nothing happened, hit the starter a couple more times, it finally cranked over and we were on our way. An hour and a half later I stopped for gas, filled up, hit the starter, nothing. The lights worked, fuel pump came on, radio on, but no starter. I accessed the battery cleaned and tightened the terminals hit the starter and we were on our way home. Well the weather here in Michigan a couple days before Christmas headed up into the forties. I thought Great! more rides. Well the bike has been sitting on the battery tender since our last ride and I went out to start her up and I have lights, fuel pump etc. but no starter. I replaced the 3 year old battery with a new one, same thing, no starter. I'm thinking my next step is to look at the starter relay and or solenoid. I'm hoping the group may have some pointers on this and help me get on the rode again before the snow flies again.
,
 
#4 ·
Sounds like you’re on the right track to me. Or maybe a loose connection on starter. Good luck - post what you find!
 
#5 ·
Battery cables can go bad also, it takes a lot more current to start the bike than to turn on everything else. Take a good look at the cable inside the terminals, if you see the cables aren’t copper brown and are turning black or some other color, that could be a cause. Also might want to check the contacts on your handlebar switch.
 
#8 ·
Take a jumper wire from the battery positive to the starter solenoid crank terminal. Used to be a small green wire. Make double sure the bike is in neutral. If the bike cranks, you have issues on the starter control side. Think relay, starter button, ignition switch type problems. If it still doesn't crank, you have issues on the high amperage side. Think cables, starter solenoid, main cable connections.
 
#9 ·
Not sure about the 2013s, but the 2011s had issues with the ignition switch taking a dump without any warning .....don't ask me how I know. Mine died with only 30k miles during SW Cherokee. I know of several others who also had to change theirs out at similar age/mileage.