sporty doesn't want to cooperate

[THE ROAD]

Originally Posted by fox_doc8403

it's carb, I was able to go through today and the stator checks out the connections are all clean and secure so the only thing I'm left to think is that the voltage regulator is the culprit. Heading down tomorrow to shell out the cash to get up and running again.

Bummer man !
Might be cheaper to bite the bullet & have it trailered to your dealer rather than start throwing parts at it .

[Tennjack]

friends bike had bout the same prob. stator checked out, voltage regulator was good bike was putting out fire. all cables were tight grounds were good tight and clean. battery was new and fully charged .im pulling my hair out .... everything was good !!!! we took it to a friends shop turns out it was a bad wire that was touching after we started ridding . check all the wires even the ones from the tail light back to fuse box.

[GotGold]

I'm just shooting in the dark on this problem, but does the battery actually go dead or act like its dead? Reason I ask is one of my many electrical issues on a sporty I had was an ignition switch that was replaced but not spliced properly. My speedo would flicker and at times the bike would die for no reason at all. Drove me nuts till I figured out the wires were loose.

[fox_doc8403]

battery completely drains in a short time period. won't charge while riding at all.

[fox_doc8403]

i'll be sure to check the wires all the way back and forward as well, thank you.

[GotGold]

Originally Posted by fox_doc8403

battery completely drains in a short time period. won't charge while riding at all.

If a battery goes dead in a short time span with nothing running, you've got a draw someplace.. or a short, which is draining it. I don't know if this will work on a bike... used it on a car. If you disconnect the positive and tap it to the battery post ya just took it off of.. do you get a large blue spark?

[FMB42]

What was the last, if any, maintenance, repair work, upgrade, modification, etc, that you did to the bike? This is always a good place to start when troubleshooting.

Does your bike have "after-market" handlebars (or have the bars been changed/replaced at some time in the past)? If so, this too would be a very good place to start your troubleshooting (certain HD bar/wire systems are very prone to pinched wires and short circuits).

You can also test for excessive parasitic draw by try the following (in addition to GotGold's suggestion):

1. Turn off both the key and the "run/start" switch.
2. Disconnect the battery negative cable (be sure to follow "misinlink's" and "Shmidty's advice).
3. Place a 12 volt test light between the disconnected battery neg. cable terminal and ground.

A. The test light should be pretty dim, or off entirely. If it's pretty bright, then suspect excessive parasitic draw. Note: you can test the "relative brightness" of the test light by connecting it directly to the battery terminals. You, of course, can also use a properly ranged amp meter (in place of the test light) for accurate parasitic amperage draw readings. You can consult your HD service manual and/or your HD service tech for the maximum allowed amperage draw. This will be expressed in "milliamps"
(i.e. one thousandth of an amp).

Continue the test by turning on the "run/start" switch while the key is still in the "off" position. See "A" above.

Also be aware that many Sportsters are known for developing corrosion problems on various electrical connectors (i.e. circuit breakers, fuse blocks, wiring, grounds, etc). A thorough cleaning/tightening and an application of dielectric grease can greatly reduce this problem (as others have probably mentioned).

Here's a link that can help with general motorcycle electrical troubleshooting:

The Motorcycle Electrical Diagnosis:

How to diagnose electrical problems, charging system on your motorcycle

[fox_doc8403]

Thank you for the extra info, I bought the bike from my local dealer in september as a used, but completely stock bike. everything seemed normal up until recently when these issues showed up

[fox_doc8403]

so after going through these leads you guys gave me, i can say 1. no i did not get a blue spark between the battery and cable. and 2. when i reconnected the neg lead back to the bike as soon as it touched the gauges they made the same noise they make when i turn the key to power up the bike.

is that normal or perhaps another lead as to the source of the problem?

[misinlink]

Sounds like it could possibly be a bad ignition switch. Unless of course the key was in the on position when you hooked the battery up.