Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Starting problem

Hey guys, so after the "cold months restoration" I finally got everything back together and buttoned up last week only to find that I needed a new battery. The new (TruGel) battery came in today, and after hooking it up it is apparently going to be yet another test of my patience...

Lights come on with the key with no problems, FINE-C in order, and when I hit the start button I can hear (what I can only presume to be ) the starter "wind up" quickly and squeal (sounds like an air wrench, but higher pitched) but not fire.

I had previously taken the starter off and the local shop bench-tested it to be ok (while not under a load). I am operating that under the assumption that if the sound I hear IS the starter, if is not the issue. (thought being that if it were the problem it wouldn't make any sort of noise when I hit the button).

Any suggestions, advise, or reasonable offers (LOL) gladly accepted, and thanks in advance for the help!

-Mark

starter relay under tank

Thanks for the response.

Just to be clear, that's the rectangular shaped piece (the one on the left, of the two mounted under the tank) and not the round one (starter solenoid), correct?

If I may ask, if that were bad, wouldn't that stop power from getting to the starter? Not second-guessing, I just want to understand this stuff a bit more...

Thanks again,

yeah one of the black boxes under the tank one is for indicators other smaller is for starter motor, air wrench noise is made by starter solenoid under side cover....starter relay is cheap and probably easy to get in any auto parts store just take it with you and try to find right one (I found my replacement in store with miscelanous electronic parts) and try if this is a reason of not turning engine

I really don't think the noise is just the clicking of the relay (have heard thatbefore with the weak battery). It's about as loud as an air wrench as well. The last time I tried it I put a hand on the starter and it felt like it was spinning...

then you might have sprag clutch issue ...hope not

"sprag clutch issue" ?

I'll try and explain. The sprag clutch allows the starter to directly spin the crankshaft through a series of idler gears without having to thrust the starter gear into a flywheel ringgear (Starter gear train is always engaged). Once the engine starts, the crank will spin faster than the starter which could damage the starter. The sprag clutch then slips preventing the damage.

A sprag clutch is a device that allows rotation one way but not the other. It grabs one way and slips the other.

I'd try bump starting the engine and get it up to operating temp. Once it is warm, shut the bike off and try the starter.

Wow, excellent info and thanks...

It almost seems like the starter is spinning without engaging the engine. How hard is it to improperly install the starter so that the starter shift isn't lined up with the proper gear? I popped the starter into place and was able to line up the bolts with no issues, but could I have missed something while reinstalling?

I only wonder because last fall everything worked just fine (no issues or odd noises when starting), and I'm trying to rule out an error on my part in putting it all back together.

Nope, I don't think R&Ring the starter caused this. A couple of fellows have had similar experiences with their starters squealing. Once they got the bike started, the problem seemed to disappear.

Try to jumper the main solenoid with a screwdriver to see if the sprag will catch. I'm wondering if the starter isn't spinning the engine fast enough for the sprag to grab. Make sure it's in neutral.

Try that and if it doesn't work, try bump starting.

"Try to jumper the main solenoid with a screwdriver to see if the sprag will catch"

Is this as simple as touching both terminals on the solenoid with a screwfriver at the same time? (Leave everything hooked up and key/ignition "on" while pressing the starter?) Sorry, I'm really new to electronics, so thanks for the patience...

Yep.

Make sure the bike is in neutral since all the safeties will be bypassed.

Well, I tried the screwdriver, which gave me the same result as hitting the starter button.

No luck bump-starting, but I'll try again later...