Yesterday I rode my 88 sportster 883/1200 on a 500 mile round trip through the SC upstate. Bike ran great with no issues till I stopped at a rest area. Shut the bike down for about 20 Min, tried to restart an all I had was a click. Sounds like its coming from one of the circut breakers under the seat. I pushed started the bike an it started right up. All lights work. Just no starter. I do not have a volt meter so I used my test light to check the breakers. On the outgoing side of all breakers I have power. I checked and cleaned any connection
I could see. Battery has plenty of juice. I have power at the starter as I should. I checked the connection at the solenoid when the start button is pushed and have no power. Could the breaker just be bad? Does anyone know which breaker is for the starter? Any input would be much appreciated

 

Welcome to HDF from the UK.

I suggest you get yourself a multimeter, so you can measure real voltages etc. Test your charging system first, to confirm your battery is fully charged and getting a charge. There are helpful threads as stickies in the DIY section.

That click sounds like the classic starter solenoid click. The starter didn't turn because it wasn't getting enough power from your battery. Let us know what you find.

 

Found a wiring diagram and saw that there was a starter relay. I couldn't see it because the mounting tab was broke and someone shoved it behind the oil tank. Put my hand on it and hit the start button and it clicked in my hand. Removed the relay and amazingly I had the same relay from a fog light kit. Plug it in and bam! Fired right up!

 

check all your electrical connections . i had a similar problem , i found loose connections on the battery terminal and the ground connection from the starter to ground on the engine block .
I have since cleaned all connections lubed them with dielectric grease and tightened all of them i also pulled all the fuses cleaned the fuseblock connections and fuse contacts lubed them also and havent had one single electrical problem since . 2 hours work saved many hours of trouble.

 

Those go bad. Replaced 2 in 4 months. there garbage, a weak link so to speak. I opened one up and adjusted the contacts closer together (not touching) so that when the relay closed it was a tighter contact. Also put on a starter push button (goes on the back of starter coil. The relay hasn't failed again and haven't had to use the push button. But it's there if I need it.

 

That's a great idea to have the push button on the starter! Any hints on how to install it!

 

I'm pretty sure, it just bolts right on.

 

It's a part just for the purpose. Three screws and your done. If you soom in on my picture, it's rite under the oil jug.