On vacation, 2010 RT won't start, no cranking

[Eviltwin]

Getting ready to ride the skyline drive, go to start the bike, no cranking at all. Dash lights up fine, but the start button acts like it is disconnected. Checked voltage on battery tender lead, 12.5. battery is less than a year old. Ran fine yesterday. Currently have it on the charger. Need help on what first to check. I do have some tools with me.

 

[SportsterDoc]

12.5 volts on a 12.8 volt AGM is 50% discharged.
Both ends of both cables tight?

State of Charge (AGM battery)
12.8+ 100%
12.6 75%
12.3 50%
12.0 25%
11.8 Zero

...measured no load

 

[SportsterDoc]

What is battery voltage when attempting to start?
If it drops below 10.5 volts, either the battery needs charging or it has a bad cell or starter is drawing too much load, which may be due to cable connection resistance.

 

[SportsterDoc]

When starter button pressed, is voltage reaching starter solenoid? If so, what is voltage?

Are you getting voltage to the load side of the starter solenoid? If so, what is voltage?

 

[wilpir]

Kill switch?

 

[SportsterDoc]

Kill switch?

That would make it easy! If so, hope embarrassment does prevent a report on the solution.

 

[RapidSpyder]

i think a lot of us have been there, done that...

 

[JayBros]

Kill switch?

That's why from Day 1 I have always used it.

 

[Eviltwin]

Kill switch was fine. Right after I posted, I did a Google search and one of the first hits was from another site from about 2011. Reading down the thread one guy mentioned that if it was an se5, to step on the brake pedal first. I went back and tried that and sure enough it cranked and started right up. I think I've owned this bike for well over 2 years and have never had to step on the brake to start. And afterwards it started fine with me not tapping the brake. Curious as to why this happened.

 

[Grandpot]

If you shut it off while it is in 1st or reverse, you will need to press on the brake to start. If you shut it off while it is neutral, you don't need to.

 

[glennm]

i think a lot of us have been there, done that...

Yep! more than once too.

 

[ottawa-rider]

If you shut it off while it is in 1st or reverse, you will need to press on the brake to start. If you shut it off while it is neutral, you don't need to.

And if it was in gear, once it starts, it immediately goes to neutral by itself, that is why it started again afterward without pressing the brake.

 

[pegasus1300]

I have always put mine in neutral on parking. Yet occasionally when I return and try to start it is in 1st. Did I forget? Did I bump it as I shut down and put it back in 1st gear? Did the gremlins get to it despite 2 bells and self shift into 1st? Is there a Twilight Zone?:dontknow: I don't know but now I always make sure to look at the dash to make sure it is in neutral. Glad your problem was so easily solved. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[Ringo]

I had this problem with the starter switch and it was diagnosed as a Kill Switch problem.