EDIT:.....I saw your addition to Firestorm....YES....your lights can and will still work with a low battery. The lights draw very little voltage and current (approx 10-15 amps MAX) from the battery to light up, however, the starter draws ALOT, if the battery is low, not having full available (approx 200 amps) amps for the starter, it will not work, but the lights will.
A rapid clicking noise when hitting the starter button is a tell-tale sign of a low/dead battery. But before doing anything....check for LOOSE battery cables and use a voltmeter on the battery terminals, you should have no less than 12.2 volts for your bike.
Leaving the choke (actually its an enrichener) won't "flood" your engine, it will however, foul the plugs. Put a fresh set in just to be on the safe side....I recommend Autolite 4265 plugs, set the gap to .040"
Here is my recommendation......an answer to a similar question....
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
You Simply had a loose cable!!!!
The dead give away for this is that the bike seemed to die and cut out while riding, the vibrations were causing the loose connection to break contact and loose power to the system. The terminal melted from being loose and the vibration caused arcing between the cable and terminal. I see this alot...this is just one of the MANY reasons for proper maintenance.
BUY A NEW HD BATTERY!!!.....STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING ELSE.....read on as to why to stick with HD ONLY......
This is an answer to a question regarding batteries...
First,....how old is the battery???
If it is dead, and more than 2 years old, you will be best off buying a new battery. Stick with HD!!!....they are a LITTLE more pricey than an after market battery, but MUCH MUCH higher in quality. HD uses AGM style batteries (Absorbed Glass Mat), they come pre-charged, and if PROPERLY maintained, they will last 4-6 years. Old style, lead acid batteries will only last about ONE year. Fuel injected models NEED AGM styles batteries, the injection systems will not function properly on lead/acid batteries.
AGM batteries REQUIRE.....SPECIAL charging procedures...DO NOT use a standard auotmotive charger...and DO NOT use ANY type of Load Tester, you WILL destroy it. The tester used on AGM batteries is about $1500....HD is the ONLY place that has the proper eqipment for test and charging DEAD AGM batteries..........take it to HD and let them test and charge it......or just buy a new one.
INVEST IN A BATTERY TENDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.........you can get one from HD with the battery for about $60. It is a STORAGE charger that comes with a small "pigtail" that bolts to the battery and a samll charging unit that plugs into the wall, the Pigtail will plug into the charger unit. Whenever you are not riding the bike, KEEP THE TENDER PLUGGED INTO THE BIKE......it will ALWAYS keep the battery fully charged.......this is a must for cold weather storage!!!
Get a new HD battery and a Battery Tender, follow my (and the dealer's) instructions and your bike will always be fully charged and you will not need another battery until at least 2014.
EDIT:...as far as the answer is concerned from Armored Dildo.....I have been trained in proper testing and charging procedures for AGM batteries....by the sound of his answer, he hasn't.....AGM battieries CAN NOT be charged witha CONSTANT amp rate charger......this will cause internal "gassing" which will pressurize the battery and cause the internal vent to release it to the atmosphere.........these batteries are SEALED to keep the gases IN, the vent is designed to keep a POSITIVE pressure inside the battery of 1-2psi. Load testing AGM batteries is based on their Cold Cranking Amps......NOT based on the amp/hour rating like lead/acid battieries...............I'll bet the Amored Dildo didn't know that!!!!
On top of all that....I recommend HD batteries BECAUSE they are designed more Heavy Duty than standard aftermarket batteries.....compare HD's casing and cable terminals to ANY aftermarket battery and you will see the difference in quality. HD's battery cases are twice as thick as anyone else, withstanding abuse and vibration MUCH better, and there terminals are SOLID, MOLDED, and SEALED, only requiring a bolt.....aftermarket batteries use thin, open, hollow terminals that require a square nut to slip into the hollow terminal and when the bolt is tightened, it twists, deforms and crack the terminals.
It's obvious the Amrmored Dildo has never see an HD AGM battery and compared it to one of his recommended batteries.
