WON'T START - '97 M900

[greenohawk69]

I was gone on vacation and my '97 M900 sat in the garage during this time - did not use a battery tender.  Bike started fine prior.  Got back from vacation and put the bike on a battery tender for two days.  Battery (bought from Batteries + in January '09, name = Extreme) appears fine as lights are on, turn signals work, etc.  I pushed started the cycle on Sunday and it ran fine for the 50 miles I went. 

Hit the start button...just a click.  Nothing else.  Took battery out and took it to Batteries + and it checked out ok.  Re-installed in cycle and hit the start button...just a click.  I had no problems prior to going on vacation.

What else should I be looking at as a potential problem (e.g. starter, rectifier, etc.)? 

[Jetbrett]

I had the same scenario last week.  It was my starter that went out.....if it wasn't for the post on push starting technique in the riding technique forum, I would have been stuck. 

[Mike Qube]

Does everything stay on when you hit the starter or do the lights go out?

[greenohawk69]

Does everything stay on when you hit the starter or do the lights go out?

Everything stays on when I hit the starter. 

I had a simlar battery (Extreme purchased at Batteries Plus) on my Harley that went kaput last month and replaced it and no problems. 

[Mike Qube]

Everything stays on when I hit the starter. 

I had a simlar battery (Extreme purchased at Batteries Plus) on my Harley that went kaput last month and replaced it and no problems. 

Different than the issue I had. All my stuff would go black, it ended up being the main relay.

[Jetbrett]

One mine, it sounded odd when I started it up in the morning.  It sounded like the battery was dead.  When I went to turn in on in the evening after work, it just clicked.  The lights and gauges stayed on. When I could not find anything obviously wrong, I took it in and was told that the starter had given up the ghost.

[Howie]

With a heavy jumper wire go directly from positive on the battery to the starter cable lug on the starter.  Make triple sure the bike is in neutral.  If the bike now cranks the problem is the solenoid or corrosion at the starter lug.  If not, it is the starter.  Oh, though it is unlikely you have an engine problem, you might want to put the bike on a rear stand, pull the plugs, put the bike in gear and spin the rear wheel to make sure your engine turns.

[DarkStaR]

Check the engine ground near the oil breather...

[greenohawk69]

With a heavy jumper wire go directly from positive on the battery to the starter cable lug on the starter.  Make triple sure the bike is in neutral.  If the bike now cranks the problem is the solenoid or corrosion at the starter lug.  If not, it is the starter.  Oh, though it is unlikely you have an engine problem, you might want to put the bike on a rear stand, pull the plugs, put the bike in gear and spin the rear wheel to make sure your engine turns.

I don't have a heavy jumper wire to do what your talking about.  I ran the bike on Sunday after rolling down a hill and starting it in 2nd gear - ran the bike to 130+ on Sunday, so I'm guessing it runs fine. 

Did order a new sealed battery anyway as the current one after putting it on the battery tender puked on the frame and on down lower and made nice ugly marks.   

[greenohawk69]

Check the engine ground near the oil breather...

I will look into that, as I checked all other battery connections and they were fine. 

[64duc]

I don't have a heavy jumper wire to do what your talking about.     

Buy the cheapest set of jumper cables you can find. $7or $8 at Wally World. They'll work fine.

  My guess would be the starter solenoid.  That's what usually causes the symptoms you describe. Or the connections on it. The click you hear is the solenoids electromagnet pulling the contacts together. Every time that happens you get an arc between the contacts. Over time this this causes pitting and carbon on the contacts until they no longer make an electrical connection. Happens to all solenoids eventually.