Barely Starts

Question for Fix My Hog I have a 2014 FatBoy. Having trouble starting it up not sure if it’s the battery or what is going on? One day it will start right up the next day it acts like the battery is low. Slowly cranks up and barely starts it. On the gauge it says in the low range with yellow light flashing after it starts. It’s slowly getting worse and I don’t want to be stranded somewhere or even worse do damage to my bike. I have had the bike almost 2 years and replaced the key fob battery a few months ago. Via Email

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12 Responses to “Barely Starts”

  1. Allan H

    I have a similar issue: recently my 2012 fxdb has been having trouble starting up. I will try to start her up and periodically that awful rapid repetitive clicking sound will tell me to take off all my gear because I'm not going anywhere fast other than to grab the tender. It's also accompanied by the display reading "Vinerr". Any idea what that could be? I just ordered a new regulator based on a friend's advice. Now I'm not so sure. Any insight would be appreciated! thanks

  2. Dean

    Battery tender brand charger. Cheapest insurance you can buy.

  3. Rommel

    Check the main fuse...and check the battery for charging capacity, age and terminal connections.

  4. Jim devine

    Why does my 2017 streetglide special keep having me enter my security pin number# all the time 90% of time and runs my battery down also? Don't understand why ?

  5. John

    Make sure you check your battery cables on both ends. I had a similar problem with my 06 Ultra and thought the starter was going out until I cleaned the cable ends. No real corrosion but cleaned all the ends up bright, reattached and the starter works great the bike starts better than ever.

  6. Dan

    I had a similar problem a few years ago with my 2003 Night Train. One day it would fire right up, the next time, a slow "grunt" before starting. Turned out to be a simple, very slightly loose, positive battery clamp. Once I cleaned the terminal, and tightened it up, I never had the problem again.

  7. Don

    Many times hard starting is due to a bad ground for the starter. I run a ground directly from the battery neg side to the starter bolt just to be sure there is a good ground. A bad ground will affect starting and charging of the battery as well. I have found on my Harley, the frame grounds are to a painter surface on the frame. Only ground is the bolt for the wires. I file off the paint and make sure there is good ground to the frame under the wire.

  8. Ron

    Get you an Interstate battery, the stock batteries suck

  9. Michael

    The cranking AMPS are gone . replace the battery . It Happens when the the age of the battery gets old ..

  10. Grayson

    I would say it is the stater that is the problem and it is not keeping enough charge in the battery to fire properly. This would also cause the back fire and eventually the bike will quit.