Oh no, another compensator. But you are in luck. Harley has a special going on. Buy one and get one free.

 

A friend mentioned the compensator as a possible cause. When i asked him to explain, he said it had to do with the primary chain, perhaps the tensioner. I just had the primary cover off and everything in there looked pristine.

 

Jumper box, another battery connected at same time etc is not troubleshooting, it is just distracting you from the real issue.

The system is simple. A fully charged battery in good working condition should not drop below 9.5volts.

No matter what a tester unit at a shop says, this is the real world load test.

If a fully charged battery drops to 7 volts when the starter is engaged it is shot.

 

Sorry,. I was joking. That sale quote was implying to say joking.

Listen to Dan. Your in good hands.

 

Dan suggested the batteries might be faulty, so I drove to my HD dealership and bought an HD AGM battery. Starting voltage 16.8, almost no drop when the key was switched on or the run switch was engaged. Dropped immediately to 7 when the start button was pressed. 7 V acoss the solenoid like both other batteries. The new battery goes back tomorrow. Meanwhile it still goes clunk. I tried the start level (+50A) on my battery charger, no help.
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i removed the engine guards I'd just installed when this began, in case I pinched a wire. No wires seen in or around the 4 bolt holes, then or now.

 

Have you tried pulling the starter and running it in the bench?

Add:
Can you bump start the motorcycle?

Another ADD: Look at the heavy cable that goes from the starter to the solenoid. Make sure it not hitting any of the chrome bling.

FWIW, I installed a 2kw starter in one of my bikes and first crank did nothing except heat up the battery. I know this is not your case but in mine, I had a aluminum aftermarket speedo sensor on the tranny. When installing the 2 kw starter, it was longer than the stock starter so the bolt to the solenoid was resting on the sensor and it pinched through the rubber cover. In my case all I had to do was change the sensor to a stock HD one, plastic top and the starter worked fine. Check to see if there is any chrome bling that might be hitting that cable.

 

Deleted double post

 

Not understanding this...

If you connect a voltmeter to both posts on a solenoid, it should read zero when the contacts are engaged.

Read voltage at battery posts while cranking, record voltage.
Read voltage with voltmeter probes at solenoid post (where battery cable connects to solenoid) and starter body, record.

What are the two readings?

 

Both places measured 7 V with the button pushed. I got this same duplication of voltage readings with the other two batteries, which I interpret as the solenoid's contacts working as they should.

 

I took the starter to my HD dealership service dept. They said they couldn't test it. I asked them and a neighboring motorcycle dealership if there was a starter/generator shop in the area where they sent out starter testing and repair. Both said there wasn't one.

The cables are both in good condition, not hitting any bling, etc.

The starter is the stock unit and is not hitting any sensors or anything else.

I feel that the bike would bump start but I haven't tried it due to a short driveway on a curve.