2016 Ultra
I hit the starter button the other day and the starter stayed running after the motor started. I had to pull the main fuse to get it to stop. I then disconnected the positive battery cable from the battery. I put the main fuse back in and tried to reconnect the battery cable. It let out a spark and the starter engaged.
I disconnected the run/stop switch and starter button. Reconnected the positive battery cable and the starter ran.
I pulled the starter relay and tried again. The starter ran.
The only thing that stops the starter from running is to disconnect the power cable from it.
I know now that there's a short somewhere. Anyone have any hints as to where to start looking? I'm no good chasing electrical gremlins.
Thanks in advance.

 

Disengage the small wire at the starter and see if it dis-engages. If it does the problem is from there back to the switch. If it doesn't its probably the solenoid.

 

Three small bolts on the back of the starter relay (foward part of the starter assembly). Clean the copper disk and copper contacts inside, clean everything well and a light coat of grease on the plunger assembly. You can see the plunger and copper contacts inside the solenoid housing here.

 

While usually the solenoid on the back of the starter motor gets dirty and results in a click no crank, it sometimes can stick intead. Then the start motor spins over any time power to the battery is supplied. It can stick from wear, from micro welding, from dirty crud, a broken spring, etc.

Sometimes you can hit the solenoid and get it to let go (or make contact if it's a click no crank), but it's a very temporary fix.

Some enjoy taking the solenoid apart to clean and service it, some just like to replace the whole starter motor. Both approaches are perfectly valid.

 

Don''t know about the recent bikes but for my 2002 Road King Harley made a Starter Clutch rebuild kit for just this problem. J&P Cycles also made one. Not very expensive. You have to pull the stater to replace the damaged parts.

 

Slight error in spelling. "You have to pull the starter to replace the damaged parts."

 

I'm going to pull the solenoid this morning and see what's what. Yet again, Harley forums and it's members to the rescue. Y'all are great!

Edit, on a whim, I tested continuity from the power wire of the starter to the battery. There was continuity. I then checked from the starter ground to the chassis ground. I believe there may be a short. I'm going to trace that ground wire and see if I can find anything. It's a really tight space in there and hard to see anything. My gorilla sized paws don't help.

If i don't find anything on the ground, I'll pull that solenoid.