 Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31 |
2003 Triumph Speedmaster Engine won't turn over and a "buzzing" is heard coming from the solenoid. Checked all fuses. Battery has been on a battery tender and showing green, even hooked up a battery jumper, and still just clicking. Tried jumping the solenoid main contacts and nothing. Tried a wire from the positive side of the battery directly to the starter, nothing. Should I try a new battery or does it sound like the starter? It starts fine by rolling it down hill in second gear and letting out the clutch. Thanks for any input. This is not my bike but sounds the same. YouTube
Only motorcycle riders know why Dogs stick their heads out of the car window.
2003 Triumph Speedmaster
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83 |
Make sure your battery terminals are clean and tight, if that doesn't work I'd try a new battery.
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
Along with checking the battery terminals, you might want to check the frame ground connects too. If that doesn't get you going, the headlight relay on the frame spine under the tank seems to cause a lot of us grief too.
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
For starters, what is the battery voltage? Should be closer to 13 volts at rest fully charged. If you leave the voltmeter on the battery and hit the start button, what does the voltage drop to. If it doesn't drop much, you have a connection issue given the fact that you already jumpered the solenoid. This leads me to believe your ground cable or ground termination points are loose, bad or corroded. The starter rarely fails on these bikes. This shouldn't be a big issue. Try running a good heavy ground cable from the battery to the bare frame and retest.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31 |
Battery is 13 volts at rest
Turn the key on it drops to 9.4 volts.
Press the starter it drops to 7.4 volts.
Then Key off back to 13 volts.
Only motorcycle riders know why Dogs stick their heads out of the car window.
2003 Triumph Speedmaster
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
7.4 Volts? Can you take your battery out and get it load tested somewhere? If the battery tests out ok, I would pull the positive cable off the starter and see what is delivered to the starter, when the key is turned. If sufficient current is being delivered, it's likely your starter. But, I suspect it's the darn headlight relay or a short in that circuit. But you find the problem by elimination, at least that's how I do it. If it turns out you need a starter, I will begrudgingly sell you my spare for $75 delivered. IIRC, that's what it cost me. Pinwall might have a cheaper one, try them first.
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,731 Likes: 6
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,731 Likes: 6 |
if it turns out to be your starter and you buy Ryks, then I'll buy your old one, I just need the case with the magnets
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
Quote:
Battery is 13 volts at rest
Turn the key on it drops to 9.4 volts.
Press the starter it drops to 7.4 volts.
Then Key off back to 13 volts.
If the battery is dropping to 9.4 volts from 13 with the key on and engine off, your battery is most likely finished. The only draw on the battery with the key on is the lights and ignition coils. The voltage shouldn't drop below 12.6. You won't start anything with 9.4 volts available.
Try boosting the battery with a known good one (If you use your car, don't run the engine). I bet your bike will start. (+ to + and - to -)
Now if the battery was to drop from 12.6 volts with the key on, to 7.4 when you hit the starter..... then the battery either needs a charge, the starter is grounded or the engine seized (highly unlikely). Your battery seems to have lots of voltage but no capacity to handle any load.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31 |
OK, progress for today:
I haven't been able to take the battery to have it tested yet, but I will try tomorrow.
I hooked up a portable battery pack and got the same buzzing noise, even on the portable battery pack voltage draw is significant.
I had my Son press the starter and put a voltage meter positive lead on the stater cable and the neg lead on the neg battery and volts were only 1 volt.
How do I test the starter relay?
Scott
Only motorcycle riders know why Dogs stick their heads out of the car window.
2003 Triumph Speedmaster
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
Where did you test the battery voltage, at the battery itself? What is the voltage of your portable battery pack and the amp hour rating? Last time it was charged? You have to confirm that you have a strong battery supply. Dropping from 13 volts to 9.4 by turning on the key is telling me that your battery is shot or you are grounding out some circuit severely. If the voltage was to drop from 13 to 9.4 while starting that's ok but your telling us that you just turn on the key and it dropped that much. How bright is your headlight with the key on? Probably pretty dim.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31 |
Battery Voltage was tested at the Battery.
Portable Battery Pack is 12v 900AMP/400AMP Harbor Freight POS.
With the key on the headlight is very bright.
OK, I took the battery out of my wife's bike(smaller battery) plus the Portable Battery pack and the bike started right up. So it looks like I will need a new BATTERY. I will have the battery tested tomorrow the go get a new battery.
Thanks for all your suggestions and input, it has help tremendous and cost me less than replacing everything until something worked.
The Battery showing charged though me down a wrong path to start with.
Again Thanks,
Scott
Only motorcycle riders know why Dogs stick their heads out of the car window.
2003 Triumph Speedmaster
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15 |
When in doubt, load test the battery...looks like you already plan to do that.
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,236 Likes: 63
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,236 Likes: 63 |
Quote:
Battery Voltage was tested at the Battery.
Portable Battery Pack is 12v 900AMP/400AMP Harbor Freight POS.
With the key on the headlight is very bright.
OK, I took the battery out of my wife's bike(smaller battery) plus the Portable Battery pack and the bike started right up. So it looks like I will need a new BATTERY. I will have the battery tested tomorrow the go get a new battery.
Thanks for all your suggestions and input, it has help tremendous and cost me less than replacing everything until something worked.
The Battery showing charged though me down a wrong path to start with.
Again Thanks,
Scott
Actually no, the battery was a dead give away when you simply turn the key on to have such a large voltage drop screams bad battery. Poor connections is a close 2nd but most likely culprit from your readings was the battery. Ryk had already suggested it before I read the readings so I saw no reason to repeat it.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31 |
Only motorcycle riders know why Dogs stick their heads out of the car window.
2003 Triumph Speedmaster
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15 |
Now with the new battery, also test the voltage across the terminals at normal idle and at 3000 RPM...
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 31 |
Update: New Battery installed.
Battery voltage across the terminals:
(all numbers approximate)
At rest: 12.8
Key on: 12.4
Normal Idle: 13.78
3000 RPM: 14.2
Only motorcycle riders know why Dogs stick their heads out of the car window.
2003 Triumph Speedmaster
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15 |
Quote:
Update: New Battery installed.
Battery voltage across the terminals:
(all numbers approximate)
At rest: 12.8
Key on: 12.4
Normal Idle: 13.78
3000 RPM: 14.2
That rules out a bad R/R.
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Re: Electrical Starting Problems
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
Your good to go. 
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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