My 1200C will not start. When the start button is pressed I get the famous machine gun sound from the starter. The lights are on and seem bright enough.

I installed the tail light conversion kit. I could not figure out how that could cause an issue. So I removed it and the bike still did not start. I checked all the fuses and they are ok. I checked to make sure I was not grounding any wires, I am not.

I am guessing the battery is dead or lost its charge. The only thing I can think of is that I left the ignition on for some time and forgot about it...

Any Ideas?

 

Try resetting the tilt switch. Ignition---Off-On--Off-On. And no offense but make sure the kill switch is off. I cranked mine for about 10 minutes one day before it dawned on me that the kill switch was on...DUH!!!!

 

So, when you say the starter makes a machine gun sound I take it it's not turning the engine over, right? If that is the case you're not getting enough power to it from the battery. Try giving it a good charge and try again.

 

Kill switch is set to run.

 

The motor will not turn over, it tried and does not. It is being charged as we chat. It may need a new battery though.

 

You can also just jump the bike off from your car. That'll tell you whether it is a battery or starter problem. Sounds like battery to me.

 

I'm going to guess it's the battery.

 

Also, make sure your cables are tight. Vtwins vibrate like hell and if the battery cables are the least bit loose it will cause problems. Went out for a Friday night ride about two weeks ago, hit the starter button... click, everything went dead, no lights nothing. Battery read full charge, tightened the cables, fired right up.

 

Be careful if you jumper with a car battery. The bigger battery can warp your bike's battery plates and ruin your battery. Use that as a last resort. Fully charge your battery with a small charger, 6 amp 12 volt. Anything bigger can also warp the plates. Done that, told Wal Mart they sold a defective battery. When I was working on my Yamaha, I disconnected the bike's battery and used small jumpers from a car battery to the bikes battery cables. Got the work done on the carbs and save the little battery.

 

If none of that works check your starter relay....its rare for them to go out but its a possibilty