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Sporty not starting...

killianp31

killianp31

Ride Rage
Joined
Oct 10, 2013
Location
San Francisco
Moto(s)
87' Yamaha Virago, 00' Sporty
Name
Killian
2000 HD Sportster: Only speedometer lights come on when switched to ACC (second ignition position), not head light or idiot lights. Not a result of battery which reads well: 12.7. Turning ignition fully to the right, speedo light goes off and no start possible. Not even any clicking. Pulled out fuses they look good, nothing seems to be blown. Stuck on where to go next. Im guessing ignition box. But I dont know how to proceed. Please help a brother out!
 
There is a main fuse. (Believe called a "Maxi Fuse".) Easily blown if you get the polarity reversed when charging. 30amp if I remember correctly. Not in the cluster in the fuse box. My 2004 had it segregated in a separate small plastic snap cover holder. Find it and hopefully, that's it. Mine was same as a 30amp automobile fuse.
 
if the maxi fuse is a squiggle fuse instead of the other arching fuses, which i believe it is if im not mistaken, it is also located in the same spot as the rest of my fuses on my 00'. additionally i can't seem to find another fuse behind the battery anywhere. Thanks for the response. Any other suggestions?
 
Last edited:
killianp31 said:
2000 HD Sportster: Only speedometer lights come on when switched to ACC (second ignition position), not head light or idiot lights. Not a result of battery which reads well: 12.7. Turning ignition fully to the right, speedo light goes off and no start possible. Not even any clicking. Pulled out fuses they look good, nothing seems to be blown. Stuck on where to go next. Im guessing ignition box. But I dont know how to proceed. Please help a brother out!
Click to expand...

I know that electrical system like the back of my hand.

Tighten down the battery cable lugs. It's not the ignition box..
 
If you have the 1 inch by 1/2 inch relay's you could try swapping them around. They have gone bad on my buell a couple times so I carry a couple in the storage compartment of my bike.
 
I don't know nothin about no HD's but 12.7 is low for a battery that size.
If cables are tight.
How old is the battery, has the bike been sitting, do you use a battery tender type charger. Those are fair questions.
Use that voltmeter to see what the voltage is when you:
A) key up.
2) hit the start button
But my polyester swami turban says battery low from sitting or battery needs to go.
 
Tri750 said:
I don't know nothin about no HD's but 12.7 is low for a battery that size.
If cables are tight.
How old is the battery, has the bike been sitting, do you use a battery tender type charger. Those are fair questions.
Use that voltmeter to see what the voltage is when you:
A) key up.
2) hit the start button
But my polyester swami turban says battery low from sitting or battery needs to go.
Click to expand...

I have a 50/50 ploy cotton turban and it twist CCW sometimes and then other times it goes CW.. and it says it's not the ignition box. :laughing
 
Tri750 said:
I don't know nothin about no HD's but 12.7 is low for a battery that size.
If cables are tight.
How old is the battery, has the bike been sitting, do you use a battery tender type charger. Those are fair questions.
Use that voltmeter to see what the voltage is when you:
A) key up.
2) hit the start button
But my polyester swami turban says battery low from sitting or battery needs to go.
Click to expand...

12.7 is right on the money for a 12v battery of any size. It's not like the voltage goes up with size, every 12v battery has the same number of cells. (Exceptions for different battery chemistry).
 
OP RECAP: signals and speedo light work in 2 ignition position (ACC) but not head light. Turn key all the way to ignition position and... nothing. Again, I've checked the terminal connections, they're tight as tiger. 12.7 is a solid meter read according to my shop guy who I got the proper HD battery from no more than a month ago to replay my 4 year old. (He can't see me til next week, thats why ive posted) The meter still reads as such which means the battery is not being drained due to a weak connection. Fuses also check out. Stumped on where to look next. Thanks for all the posts!
 
Try downhill push-start on 2nd gear and ride it a little with headlight off, then stop, wait 5-10 sec and start it. Most likely it's a battery.
 
If you leave the meter connected while trying to start the bike does it move when you press the starter button?

Very unlikely the battery is at fault since the village is perfect, possible but very unlikely.
 
bpw said:
If you leave the meter connected while trying to start the bike does it move when you press the starter button?

Very unlikely the battery is at fault since the village is perfect, possible but very unlikely.
Click to expand...
Meter does't budge after trying to start :/ got it working for a short while now back to same issue. guess: a loose wire/ground issue, just can't seem to find the damn thing possibly ignition wiring?
 
You checked your fuses but did you check your relays? My Sporty had a no start issue and it was caused by a faulty relay.

Your bike's fuse box may or may not look like this one but...

Swap #4 with #5. If she cranks, you need a new relay.

om00956.jpg
 
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