It's started, bits fell off & won't start (help)

[kiwidave]

Exactly. Backfiring being the classic symptom...


If battery does not give a good reading Adam, go here

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.c...ng-system.html

[kiwidave]

Originally Posted by Adam 105th sportster

the ignition key got all the panel lights up this morning then it kicked over once and died without actually starting. Wife said she saw a spark jump out near my right leg (& she was 20' away so it must have been a decent one) and now the whole thing is dead. Nothing on the panel (next to the speedo) with the key in 'hot' & no headlights on. Basically I have 5.5volts on the battery & thats about it, nothing anywhere else.

Classic dead battery. It will give you bulbs until you try to start the bike then the TINY bit of life in it just vanishes.

Charge it overnight, and then check the charging system. If the battery does not hold a load tomorrow, then you have to check the charging system (with that link above) with a GOOD fully-charged battery.

[Adam 105th sportster]

Thanks for the link I'll check it out in a mo. 'edit' thats a bleedin informative link, cheers. RAC guy stuck his 12v on it and the lights came back up after it got 12v again. The solenoid engages on the starter but it won't turn the engine at all, 1/4 turn at most then nowt. Have 195 amp draw when cranking. Checked cable from batt' to starter & thats tights with same amp draw. Insurance policy (Bennetts) included 'take it away somewhere' so it's off to Fullbore in Watford who did the service last month & fitted the fuel pack to see if they can find the problem.

Thing is it's been A1 perfect since day one & today this. If it was a drain surley I'd have noticed it preceding this morning? Hopefully it can be fixed today & I'll be back on it later.

Thanks to everyone who chipped in. Whether it works or not it's nice to know someone's trying to help & thats appreciated.

p.s.
Where's the regulator at on these? !!!

[Urrell]

Check battery lead negative and positive connections both ends, also it would not be the first lead to break so check condition of leads. Then check connections on starter.

Any of these loose or broken could give off sparks.

[Phil]

Originally Posted by Adam 105th sportster

Wife noticed 2 orange sparks by my right leg when I hit the starter button this morning. It half turned for about a second then stopped & that was it. I have 5.4 volts on the batt' live to the engine casing but absolutely nothing on the light panel when I turn the key to hot

Sparks are a give away.

I would say that the loose exhaust damaged the wiring. Closely inspect it.

Sounds like the earth cable to me, you will see that it fastens to the top of the tranny onto a stud. There are also two live cables on & around the starter.

5.4 Volts will not get you anywhere. Pull the battery, charge it & re-install correctly.

[Adam 105th sportster]

Just picked the bike up from Full bore. It was an earth cable that sits behind the battery & can't really be seen without taking it out. THe spark Gill saw this morning was a spring washer arcing as that was all black n blue. They said they have had about 3 or 4 of these particular cables go like this. When the battery is removed it can slightly m ove the cable round which could leave it loose. On the later rubber mounted engines earth's are even more important. They only charged me an hours labour which is a hell of a lot cheaper than another day off work.

Building Chevy's I can do but I'm still very much learning about H/D's & I thank you all for your help today.

[kevscrivener]

Originally Posted by Adam 105th sportster

Building Chevy's I can do but I'm still very much learning about H/D's & I thank you all for your help today.

We all have to start learning sometime with Harleys mate and you won't find a better site in the UK than this one for help.

You will probably be able to return the favour when THIS thing plays up!



There are a few of us on here with US 4-wheelers; got one yourself?

[Mantis]

So I was partly right when I said its a loose earth

Atleast its running now .

[Adam 105th sportster]

Mantis, yes you were mate. If I could have got to the neg terminal without removing the batt I think it would have shown 12v. The partial earth was only allowing some of that to get to the bike as the shop had no need to recharge the battery.

Kev, any problems mate just ask on here or pm me at chevy.57@ntlworld.com & I'll try to help out. Been messing with them for 25 years now. Got two '57's & a '55 here.

[kevscrivener]

Originally Posted by Adam 105th sportster

Kev, any problems mate just ask on here or pm me at chevy.57@ntlworld.com & I'll try to help out. Been messing with them for 25 years now. Got two '57's & a '55 here.

A man of excellent taste!

Thanks mate will remember that.