Starter Problemo BPG Help!!!

[CoastieRider]

The Following events occured between 2100 hours and 2120 hours on FRI:

2100- Im riding home from the gym, i turn the corner.. she startes to sputter, lights dim.. i think oh crap the battery terminals are loose again..i turn of my high beams and accent lighting..

2103- Im racing home at 60mph before she dies. Oh crap again, the check engine light came on, the gauges start to dance back and forth. I shift up to go faster, but she doesn't lke that, so back into third gear I go.

2107- Im half-way home, the light turns red, pull the clutch in and keep the revs at 4k. ( im assuming the the battery crapped out and im trying to keep a charge going to the ecm so i dont lose my EFI, and die.)

2110- Im on my way again, the headlights are going brighter, then dimmer, then out, and brighter, and so on.

2114- As I see the gate to my complex, i look down and everything goes dark, but this time for good. I get off and roll the beast 800 ft home, and into the garage.

2120- I removed the seat, checked the connections; all good (Crap!) so i grab the voltmeter and check the battery; 12.7 volts (Crap Again!). Attempt to turn the bike, but no juice to the gauges.. So i call it a night and crash..


SATURDAY:

Wake up go to Gulf Coast Harley and pick up 3 relays (starter, ignition, and ), I get home install them, turn the key on and nothing, wait a few seconds and voila, gauge lights up, needles sweep, turn the kill swith to "ON".....

Press the red starter button to starte her up and.... CLICK...and she dies, gauges go dark.

So I try again..CLICK.. dead...!!!!

I am pretty sure it is the starter solenoid going bad, possibly because the battery i had been using might not have had enough cold cranking amps as it should have. Although it has worked for the last six months, I am afraid that holding the start button down so long in order to get the bike to turn over could possibly have damaged the solenoid.

I know its not the relays, after i replaced all of them the bike came back to life.. also all the fuses are fine and not blown..

2005 xb9sx 11500 miles
K&N Filter, Jardine exhaust
Dobeck TFI

IM hoping its only the solenoid,if so I will replace it, I would go to the dealer but im dead broke and i have plenty of tools and time to replace it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[LeFox]

just wondering why, when broke, did you go to a dealer to get all relays if that isn't the problem?

start your engine and measure the load, see what that gives.

 

[CoastieRider]

I replaced the relays, because when i turned the ignition on, nothing happened, so i replaced them and after i did everything came back, with the exception of trying to start it...also ill put the meter on her and see what i get.

 

[BuellPartsGuy]

Ignition switch or rubbed through wire in the harness somewhere....

 

[Tork]

Your battery might be toast. It might have enough voltage to illuminate your dash and lights, but not enough current capacity to start your bike. Measuring 12V with a meter doesn't mean the battery is good.

Take your battery to Autozone or another parts store that will load test your battery for free. It will either identify or eliminate your battery as the culprit. It's the first thing I would do before spending another dime. A dead battery can cause those same symptoms you described.

 

[Buellysses]

You say you checked the battery terminals, but did you check the other end of the ground cable? (Not implying anything about your intelligence, just want to make sure it didn't get overlooked.)

 

[CoastieRider]

Occam's Razor- "The simplest explanatio is often the most likely"

Drum roll please......
the battery was lacking "soul" (ie. amperage)and thanks to TORX and everyone who contributed i saved quite a bit of $$$$....went to harley and picked up the correct battery, and she started right up...i owe you guys a case of PBR, MGD, BL or whatever you like...as long as you are 21...of course.

 

[CoastieRider]

"With Buells all roads lead to the battery"