Harley won't start...

My bike's been in the garage for several months. It's an '05 FXSTDi.
When I try and start it, it makes a clicking sound - a bit like a woodpecker (if that's a technical term?) or a ratchet whirring around. If anything I'd guess it could be the start motor. The engine turns maybe once, but then the clicking sound starts until I release the start button.
I thought first out the battery was screwed, so I charged it, but same problem.
I tried to jump the beast via jump leads attached to my car battery yesterday - it was all properly connected as the lights went brighter, but still, same sound.
So I'm assuming it's not the main battery?
Any ideas? The manual wasn't too helpful.
Nice to see you all at the River Dart - as you can guess, the bike didn't make it down, but generally too drunk to ask any advice whilst I was there..

[Limey_Dave]

Clean and tighten all the connections for the cables,not just at the battery,earth leads aswell.
If the battery is stuffed then even recharging won't help.

Will do. Do you know if there's a way to disconnect the siren so the darn thing doesn't keep going off when I disconnect the battery?
That said, when I attempt a jump start and connect an external battery, the headlights go bright, so assuming the connections are all OK?

[Roger]

Sounds like the battery to me too.

Surely the fact that it won't jump start means the battery's OK, or am I missing something? I'll check it out with a voltmeter too, but it's only a 3 year old battery and I thought they'd be better than that... :P

[Limey_Dave]

If it's a wet battery and the plates have suphated the paste can drop off the plates and short them out at the bottom.It may then pass enough for the lights, when jumped,but not for starter.

You'll note I said all connections,not just battery.If the other ends of the cables aren't right the power from the car battery is going nowhere.Look at the size of headlight cable,if a bad connection is giving you that amount of conductivity then lights will work but starter will not.

[Roger]

Originally Posted by tim_holman

but it's only a 3 year old battery and I thought they'd be better than that... :P

Luck of the draw. My Road King battery lasted 18 Months

[grbrown]

The 'woodpecker' is probably the starter solenoid switching in and out, because the battery is not giving enough power to both hold it in and turn the starter motor over. The additional load when starting to turn the motor makes the solenoid disengage, the load is therefore reduced, so the solenoid re-engages....

If you don't have one, buy a battery minder, which you can plug into the bike when not using it - it will monitor battery condition and top it up as required. In the meantime it looks as if you will also need a new battery!

In the umpteen years I have been riding bikes I have killed a battery on a new bike in just a few months and at the other end of the spectrum only recently replaced one that is almost twelve years old!

[Ukkid76]

Originally Posted by tim_holman

Surely the fact that it won't jump start means the battery's OK, or am I missing something? I'll check it out with a voltmeter too, but it's only a 3 year old battery and I thought they'd be better than that... :P

You can’t jump start a bike with a flat battery, the battery on the bike (or anything for that matter) must be in a serviceable condition, or you would need a set of jump leads only found in a reputable workshop,

i.e. big ones!!

I’ve not read all the posts so this has probably already been suggested, you need to charge the battery with a good battery charger, not an optimax or anything alike!!

Charge it for 12 hrs or so then try to start it if that fails I would replace the battery.

[Penfold]

I agree with the above about it being the battery.

My other half has a 1100cc Virago with a 'wet' lead-acid battery.
It went the same way with the 'woodpecker' sound.

Used an Optimate III always to charge it and it told me it took a full charge (both LEDS green) every time.

But after a few pushes of the button it was 'Woody Woodpecker'!

I tested the battery with a battery tester (it has a large resistor) and this told me the battery was good. But I noticed the charge was short lived.

I then re-charged the battery and obtained a hydrometer and tested the battery's cells. I found that the electrolyte specific density was down in two of the six cells with the rest being good.

I replaced the battery with a new. Problem sorted!

Later HD battery's are sealed, so using a hydrometer is not possible. But replacing the battery may be your answer.