My 2011 FLHP will not start. It clicks, makes a humming or buzzing noise and the lights go out. I have to turn off the ignition and turn it back on to retry. The lights are bright before I try to start it. The battery cables are tight and clean. Battery checks 12.8 volts but goes way way down when I hit the starter as if something is drawing a lot of juice. Ran jumper cables from my car battery and same thing no start. Ideas? If this was my old Evo I'd start with the solenoid but the lights going out seem strange to me. I'm not at all electrically talented so I'm thinking of getting it towed into a dealer. frustrated with this bike. My old Evo has been more reliable. Compensator, lifters, wheel bearings....and now another problem?

 

I had a similar situation on my last sled, and it was a bad battery.

 

I agree. Sounds like a bad battery. Try leaving the cables on the bike for a few mins before you try to start it. And make sure the car it is hooked up to is OFF

 

Take the battery to an auto parts store and have it checked. If it's not the battery, it could possibly be the starter is locked up somehow.

 

My car was not running....

 

Time for a new battery.

 

so the click is the solenoid closing- the humming or I would call a whining- is the starter windings burning up.

let go the button!!

you have low voltage.

charge you battery with a charger ( not tender) and test at autozone etc.

and check the cables

jumping it can blow your charging system if the battery is duff

mike

 

It was a bad battery after all.

Thanks guys for the help. Even though the HD battery was expensive, it was nothing compared to bringing the bike to the stealer to have them fix it.

THANKS AGAIN!

 

Is your charging system supplying correct voltage? If It's not charging, eventually the battery will not have enough voltage to start. New battery will fix that, but a new one will fail like the old one unless it's getting 13.5-14ish volts when charging.

 

It's putting out about 14.2 volts when running so yes it's charging. Thanks!

I do wonder why it failed so suddenly. Never a hard start, never a slow crank or dim lights. Maybe a battery tender is in order. I always use one on the old Evo, but those charging systems were not as good as today's bikes.