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[efrbc1]

2003 Road King (non CVO ).  Bike has been sitting a bit - maybe 6 months - on a battery tender. Went to start it yesterday and got a slow turnover and then some clicking.  Checked the battery - 12.7v.  Checked connections and found the positive terminal a bit dirty.  Cleaned and tightened all connections.  Tried to start it again and now all it does is single click and nothing else.  Power to everything else, battery shows at 100%.  Looking for a place to start checking - starter?, solenoid?
Thanks

[Fired00d]

Was the battery test a "load check" or just a voltage check?

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Twolanerider]

Was the battery test a "load check" or just a voltage check?

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

What Dood said ^ ?   And did you check the battery cables at all ends rather than just at the battery?  Harley had some poor cables at times over the years but, even were that not the case, it's not unfair to consider that a nearly dozen year old cable might have seen better days anyway.  Double check the battery first then closely check the cables. 

[efrbc1]

Just a voltage check.  Cables were checked and look real good.  Battery isn't that old but I know that doesn't mean a whole lot........
Guess I need to do a load test.  Local auto parts store??

Chris

[Fired00d]

Just a voltage check.  Cables were checked and look real good.  Battery isn't that old but I know that doesn't mean a whole lot........
Guess I need to do a load test.  Local auto parts store??

Chris

Yep, and yep.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Twolanerider]

Or for about $20 can pick up little battery load testing tool at Harbor Freight then can always do it whenever you want.

[grc]

Or do a poor man's load test and just attach your voltmeter across the battery terminals, note the voltage as you press and hold the starter button.  Even though the battery may show 12.7 volts at rest, that may be a false reading from sitting on the charger all the time.  Use the starter to add a load and you will probably see voltage drop like a rock as soon as you hit the starter button.  If so, get a new battery.  If not, then use your meter to check voltage drop from the positive battery post to the positive stud at the starter, and from the negative battery post to the various chassis grounds.  There should be no voltage drop over that short distance.  As Twolanerider mentioned, lots of stock Harley battery cables suffered from internal rot, under the insulation where you can't see it.  Visual inspections won't tell you as much about cable and connection integrity as a good old voltage drop test.

Jerry

[porthole]

And to add - is the click a "quiet" click or a heavier clunk?
If it is the battery the click may/should be quite noticeable, and the headlight will dim
If it is the starter the click may be much quieter. If that, try pulling the 3 screws off the cover and pushing in the solenoid may start the bike.

[windjammer]

Have you recharged the battery?

[efrbc1]

Battery is fully charged.  Pretty noticeable click and a slight dim of the lights (LED).  A couple of days until I can get back at it.  I'll post findings.  Thanks to all for ideas.

Chris

[Ridgerunr]

At 12.7 volts, I'm betting it's the battery. Fully charged they are 14volts or a little more.

[grc]

A fully charged AGM battery is 12.7V - 12.8V once any "surface charge" is removed; 14+ is what you see when the charging system is working (voltage regulator setting).  If the battery is showing 12.7 while the charger is hooked up or immediately after disconnecting the charger, then that's too low since the charger itself produces at least low to mid 13's.  As I noted previously, a battery voltage reading can indicate a charge but the voltage can drop immediately as soon as any load is applied.  It's an indication of an internal failure of the battery.  An open circuit voltage reading is not a great indicator of battery condition all by itself.  A load test is the way to determine true battery condition.

Jerry

[Ridgerunr]

" A load test is the way to determine true battery condition."

 

[ltank]

If you don't have a load tester simply measure the voltage as you crank the Nike over. If it drops below 10.5 vdc the battery is bad. Below that the solenoid will not engage just click.

[Lever]

Just going to throw this out .... Hopefully the motor didn't seize up ?