Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Continuing starting probs...

Used to be only intermitent but recently more often than not have trouble starting up. Press the starter button and just hear the click from under the tank. If I pressed several times she'd usually fire up but now it's getting daft! Have replaced the battery and starter soleniod. Looked at stand, starter motor and kill switch etc. Anything alse I should be checking? Click's presumably the starter relay, that was the next thing I was going to investigate/ replace? Obviously don't want to keep shelling out for stuff that's working OK.
Indeed can a starter relay be dismantled and serviced with WD40 and gaffer tape does anyone know?

Solenoid is the relay, Dave.

Hook up a voltmeter across your battery terminals. What does it read and what happens when you hit the button?

Thanks Phil, I'll check that out.
Am confused tho. Limited electrical knowledge and new to the wiring on the TBA but understood the relay and solenoid to be separate as on wiring diagram? (This is why optician shouldn't read wiring diagram )...So what's clicking under the tank, got a feeling that's something to do with it? Already replaced solenoid which as you know is against airbox...

tell me Dave ...push the button hear click ok (click is from side panel there is clicking thing) does starter turns or not? or sounds like turns but does not turn engine? then in some time engine turns and start?? as simply as I can in english

OK, maybe I didn't read you right. You've replaced the solenoid on the starter motor?

If so, I apologize. I thought you meant the starter solenoid!

The names are sorta used interchangeably (stupid) and if you Google 'starter solenoid' and then click on Images, you will see both!

Here's a starter solenoid (relay):



And here's a starter solenoid:



Clear as mud, right?

Anyway, if the starter relay is clicking, it sounds like it is working but here's a test to see if the juice is passing.

Take a voltmeter, ground the black probe (-) to the frame (btw, I made up a couple of wires with alligator clips on either end so I can clip a probe to something (like ground) and keep that hand free). Turn on the key, put the red probe (+) on the side of the starter relay where the big wire goes to the starter, and hit the switch. If you get 12v on that wire/connection, your relay is doing it's job.

Greg, that's about spot on mate but it varies! I changed solenoid and battery today, after doing that started without any problem. Problem sorted I thought but no, after filling up went to start again but just the click again, engine not turning. Pressed starter button many times, got slight engine turn at a couple of points but not enough to fire up. Several goes later she eventually fires up, crazy!

Many thanks for that Phil, this is starting to make more sense..I think! I'll run those checks...

tell me.... starter is turning but engine not??

Does it only happen when the engine is hot?

Click, click...lots of clicks! but starter not turning...then starter kicks in momentarily but engine doesn't fire up sort of thing Greg...

or electric thing or...... worse sprag cluch had it but cant tell when cant hear, was thinking that battery is weak and has no power to turn engine my symptoms were like -click, click, starter turning but no engine engaged after few times engine finally start and was easy to start when was still hot

I have seen corrosion in the crimped on cable ends do what you describe as well. You can't see it unless you pull the insulation away from the cable end and look kind of inside the connector. Just a thought on a problem I have seen that causes exactly what you are describing. Most people do what you have before finding it too.

Dafy what Dog33 has said makes a lot of sense.
I have had lately exactly the same problems you are talking about, you hit the starter but nothing happens except the faint click of the headlight cut out relay under the tank. It has been happening for the last say five or six months every now and then getting worse as time has gone by.
I have checked everything even taken the starter relay apart to clean it but that was not the problem. After using a voltmeter I discovered that power was not even getting to the starter relay so this made me suspect the headlight cut out relay. I managed to get it apart but it seemed ok and tested fine but some of the crimp connectors joining to it did seem a tad loose so I squeezed them up with some pliars and applied some more dielectric grease.
Well it has been about two weeks since I did all this and (crossed fingers) it has not happened since and I have been riding to and from work and on some longer rides.
I just gotto fix that dammm speedo problem now.
Good Luck .

Hey Dave, I forgot about the relay under the tank that kicks out the headlight and such. Doubt that is your problem though.

If there is corrosion, measuring the voltage on the starter relay stud (under the side cover) will only tell you if the relay is working. You should also measure at the starter and see if the juice is getting there.

That's exactly it Stewart. Been gradually getting worse but particularly bad past couple of rides. Which now leads me also to think it's probably due to corrosion, that or something loose somewhere...

Quote:

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Does it only happen when the engine is hot?

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Doesn't seem to make a difference Edward, happens hot or cold...

I'll make those voltmeter checks that Phil has suggested and check all the wiring/ terminals again. Have an alarm/ immobilizer fitted so suppose I should check that wiring also. Will report if problem solved...

Please do Dave really like to find out how you go.

I just went through the exact same thing Dave. My solution was to clean the battery terminals and wires off really good and snug them down tight. No more clicky clicky.

Thanks for all the advice guys.
Took a wire brush and some WD40 and thoroughly cleaned the connectors at battery, solenoid and starter motor. Inspected the crimps also. Out today and made several stops on the way with no problem starting again. So hopefully solved and won't have to inspect rest the wiring under the tank now.