Could use some help here. I have a 2005 883C that is having a hard time starting. I replaced the battery last fall and it's been on a battery tender ever since. Last weekend, I wanted to take it out for the first time this spring. When I turn the key on, all the lights come on as normal. When I hit the start button, all I get is a clicking noise. I jump started it from my truck and it fired right up.

I've pulled the battery and checked the ground cable and all the connections appear to look ok at the battery.

Where should I look next?

 

Check the battery terminals and connectors. Sometimes they will corrode after sitting awhile. A small wire brush or some sand paper will get the corrosion off. It sounds like too simple of a fix but I just did this on my EG Ultra and now it starts right up.

 

If it fired right up from a jump start, that's an indication that the battery is low or the battery terminal connections are loose or corroded. Clean the battery connections and coat the connectors with dielectric grease, then tighten. You can get the dielectric grease at almost any auto parts store.

You may also want to check that your battery tender is really working properly, they do fail sometimes.

 

If connections are tight and clean then check voltage and load test. Might be a dead cell.

 

^^^both of these dudes. i have almost 8k mi. on my orig. battery from 08. might be time to replace but she fires right up every time. been on a tender since the day she came home in 08.

 

Sounds like what others guys said,just old battery,

 

Ok, so I finally got a chance to dig into this a bit, still no results. I have done the following:

Took battery back to store for check...ok
Cleaned battery terminals
Cleaned and checked wire connections at starter and ground
Checked voltage at all connections without starting...13.34 at each
Checked voltage at all connections after jump start...14.58 at each

It will still click at the starter area and not fire up. It will jump start from truck battery though. I think I need to measure voltage at the starter while trying to start it, but haven't yet.

Where to next?

 

That sounds like a voltage reading with the Battery Tender (or charger) still attached.
A fully charged battery should only measure 12.7-12.8 VDC
After removing any chargers, turn the ignition switch On for 5 seconds and then back off. (you lights should come on with the switch on)
Now measure the voltage across the battery terminals. What is it?
Next, turn the ignition switch back on, and measure the voltage across the battery terminals. What is it?

 

Also, (assuming that you're attaching the positive jumper cable to the positive battery terminal and the negative jumper cable to a ground point on the motor/frame) you are bypassing only 2 parts, the battery and the negative battery cable.

If the bike starts off the jumpers, either the battery, the negative battery cable, or the negative battery cable connections (one at each end of the cable) has to be bad.

.

 

I'm an idiot. Yes, I did leave the tender hooked up. Will take some readings again tonight.

I am narrowing it down to that negative side as well and will look a little closer.

Thanks for the help.