Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start!

vaccam · 03-16-2008, 08:40 AM

Well, the bike was running fine. The wife and I rode 26 miles from Wilmington, NC, to Kure Beach, NC. When we got to Kure Beach there was some event going on and we were stopped on the road for about 15 mins. After about 5 mins of not moving I turned off the engine. Once traffic started moving again I tried turning it back on and nothing.

I managed to get the owner of the B&B to come pick us up so we could get the car and trailer to pick up the bike. A nice Harley guy helped me check out the bike and then helped push it onto the trailer.

I had turned it on and off about three times before we left for the morning. When I turn it on now a few of the lights on the dash cycle through, the FI light remains lit, which I think is normal. When I press the starter button it make a very slight click, but never cranks. It has plenty of gas, and a new battery. It does not make the click, click, click noise of a dead battery. We cleaned and tightened the battery connections.

I am suspecting the starter. Any other suggestions what it might be? The starter looks to be behind the radiator, how hard is it to replace?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Michael

**ringadingh** · 03-16-2008, 09:05 AM

Did you check the safety switch wires at the clutch lever, they have been known to come loose at the plug. Make sure the plug is pushed on all the way. And the sidestand also has a safety switch, it wouldn't hurt to rule these out before you start removing the starter. Im not sure how hard it is to get at the starter motor but Id check a few connections first.

Scoot · 03-16-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Did you check the safety switch wires at the clutch lever, they have been known to come loose at the plug. Make sure the plug is pushed on all the way. And the sidestand also has a safety switch, it wouldn't hurt to rule these out before you start removing the starter. Im not sure how hard it is to get at the starter motor but Id check a few connections first.

I agree

vaccam · 03-16-2008, 10:14 AM

+5

Ringadingh,

My Gosh! That was it. I should have known. I actually broke the clutch safety switch connector when I installed my PhatIIs and forgot to replace it. Man what a waste of a few hours of our vacation...

I ran outside after seeing your post, and sure enough the connector was sitting about an inch from the switch.

Thank you so much for the suggestion. As has been said many times, this site is great.

I guess I will need to order that part ASAP.

Now back to our vacation.

Michael

Scoot · 03-16-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

+5

Ringadingh,

My Gosh! That was it. I should have known. I actually broke the clutch safety switch connector when I installed my PhatIIs and forgot to replace it. Man what a waste of a few hours of our vacation...

I ran outside after seeing your post, and sure enough the connector was sitting about an inch from the switch.

Thank you so much for the suggestion. As has been said many times, this site is great.

I guess I will need to order that part ASAP.

Now back to our vacation.

Michael

Are you sure you broke it. It's common for it to come apart. Mine is stretched pretty tight and comes apart fairly easy I check it often. Mainly when I give it a detail cleaning it come apart

03-16-2008, 10:52 AM

Alls well that ends well. Things like this is what makes this site so cool.Helping hands are always here.

Mike

audiogooroo · 03-16-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Alls well that ends well. Things like this is what makes this site so cool.Helping hands are always here.

Mike

Gotta love it!

rlfaubion · 03-16-2008, 01:13 PM

Good work here guys. Good to see a vacation saved. Kudo's to the contributers of the forum!

blowndodge · 03-16-2008, 01:22 PM

Ringadingh to the rescue again!!

**ringadingh** · 03-16-2008, 02:24 PM

Im glad you found the problem quickly, its a lot cheaper than replacing the starter. Thats why I love this forum, the help available here is second to none.

03-16-2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Are you sure you broke it. It's common for it to come apart. Mine is stretched pretty tight and comes apart fairly easy I check it often. Mainly when I give it a detail cleaning it come apart

Yeah, the same thing happened to me when I was greasing the steering stem bearings. I hoisted the handle bars with a rope over my rafters so I could get the top tree off, and I pulled the wires just enough that the switch wires came unplugged.

vaccam · 03-16-2008, 09:35 PM

Scoot,

No, it is broken, the top half of the connection is gone. I remember finding the piece.

Thanks again. We enjoyed a nice time this afternoon on the bike.

Michael

cactusjack · 03-17-2008, 11:16 AM

We're just one big, semi-dysfunctional family around here.

blowndodge · 03-17-2008, 11:42 AM

Hey cactusjack, don't sell me short!! I'm totally dysfunctional. I've worked 50 years on it and I want my proper recognition!!!

jussmatt · 03-17-2008, 04:11 PM

Dualy Noted BD!!!! It's official... you're fully Dysfunctional!!!LOL!

03-16-2008, 08:40 AM	#1
vaccam Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 218	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! Well, the bike was running fine. The wife and I rode 26 miles from Wilmington, NC, to Kure Beach, NC. When we got to Kure Beach there was some event going on and we were stopped on the road for about 15 mins. After about 5 mins of not moving I turned off the engine. Once traffic started moving again I tried turning it back on and nothing. I managed to get the owner of the B&B to come pick us up so we could get the car and trailer to pick up the bike. A nice Harley guy helped me check out the bike and then helped push it onto the trailer. I had turned it on and off about three times before we left for the morning. When I turn it on now a few of the lights on the dash cycle through, the FI light remains lit, which I think is normal. When I press the starter button it make a very slight click, but never cranks. It has plenty of gas, and a new battery. It does not make the click, click, click noise of a dead battery. We cleaned and tightened the battery connections. I am suspecting the starter. Any other suggestions what it might be? The starter looks to be behind the radiator, how hard is it to replace? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Michael Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-16-2008, 09:05 AM	#2
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! Did you check the safety switch wires at the clutch lever, they have been known to come loose at the plug. Make sure the plug is pushed on all the way. And the sidestand also has a safety switch, it wouldn't hurt to rule these out before you start removing the starter. Im not sure how hard it is to get at the starter motor but Id check a few connections first. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

03-16-2008, 10:14 AM	#4
vaccam Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 218	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! +5 Ringadingh, My Gosh! That was it. I should have known. I actually broke the clutch safety switch connector when I installed my PhatIIs and forgot to replace it. Man what a waste of a few hours of our vacation... I ran outside after seeing your post, and sure enough the connector was sitting about an inch from the switch. Thank you so much for the suggestion. As has been said many times, this site is great. I guess I will need to order that part ASAP. Now back to our vacation. Michael
	0

03-16-2008, 10:52 AM	#6
Guest Posts: n/a	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! Alls well that ends well. Things like this is what makes this site so cool.Helping hands are always here. Mike
	0

03-16-2008, 01:13 PM	#8
rlfaubion Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,582	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! Good work here guys. Good to see a vacation saved. Kudo's to the contributers of the forum!
	0

03-16-2008, 01:22 PM	#9
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! Ringadingh to the rescue again!! __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

03-16-2008, 02:24 PM	#10
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! Im glad you found the problem quickly, its a lot cheaper than replacing the starter. Thats why I love this forum, the help available here is second to none. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

03-16-2008, 09:35 PM	#12
vaccam Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 218	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! Scoot, No, it is broken, the top half of the connection is gone. I remember finding the piece. Thanks again. We enjoyed a nice time this afternoon on the bike. Michael
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03-17-2008, 11:16 AM	#13
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! We're just one big, semi-dysfunctional family around here. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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03-17-2008, 11:42 AM	#14
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! Hey cactusjack, don't sell me short!! I'm totally dysfunctional. I've worked 50 years on it and I want my proper recognition!!! __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

03-17-2008, 04:11 PM	#15
jussmatt Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Richmond, TX. Posts: 2,588	Turned the Nomad off, now it won't start! Dualy Noted BD!!!! It's official... you're fully Dysfunctional!!!LOL!
	0

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