New battery but still no start

[digitalsam]

OK, I found that my old battery was dead. Replaced itnthis morning with a brand new, fully charged battery... But still am getting a clicking from the starter relay switch with nothing else. No noise from the starter at all.

Any suggestions? I just wanna ride.

[motoman]

Jumper wire across the relay .....if starter engages, suspect starter button or starter relay.

[WMarshy]

Or you could probably jump the poles at the starter to rule out the starter...assuming you have juice at the starter... Did you buy a new sealed bat or did you have to add the acid and charge it?... Your sure the bat is good? GL

[DGXSER]

The clicking is typically the solenoid not pulling all the way in. Usually cause dby not enough juice to pull it. I would second the thought of jumping the high side terminals on the solenoid and see if it starts. If it turns over form that, then your on to more fun!

If it starts fine from jumping the solenoid, and it runs fine once you get it started, then I would suggest checking the contacts on your starter button and cleaning those up good.

[digitalsam]

Alrighty. I jumped the terminals (with a lot of sparks flying). I was too chicken to wait and see if it would start, but the starter turned and the engine began to turn over, even without the key on (an important detail, by the way). So Now I will open up the starter button and clean it, any suggestions after that?

[Ivan]

First, check your kill switch on the right handle bar grip. That has gotten the best of us, and is usually a DOH! moment.

The relay is a great place to test the starting system since each part of the circuit is hooked to it. Shorting the big terminals will make all kinds of sparks, but if the engine cranks, then its time to look into the primary circuit (the little wires). The starter button grounds the blue and white wire (I think that's the right color). So, there should be power there with the test light and the key on. If you hit the starter button, and the light goes out, that means the starter button is grounding ok and the relay is bad. If there isn't power there with the key on, then check the termainal diagonally from it, there should be power there with the key on. If not then check fuses and connections on that circuit. If there is power there and not on the blue white wire, that indicates a bad relay as well.

At some point, I am going to find a video camera and make a short film describing this process and link it up on youtube or the like. Seems to be a very common question, and would make a good tech tip.

[digitalsam]

New Relay Switch, turns over, no start

OK, with all your advice, I was able to determine that I needed to replace the starter relay. Two weeks later, it came in. (Blasted local shop)

After making sure the battery was well charged, I cranked it and it almost starts up... really close. I still have not synched the carbs, and wonder if that could be the problem. But I think I need to start the bike in order to do that. Any questions on the starting issue? Also, I am going to make my own carb sync tool using oil, six foot fuel lines and two stroke oil. Any hints, advice, rude comments?

Photo

This is a photo during the short period when it ran a month ago.

[CatatonicBug]

I like the "Flames" on the tank! The paint job is pretty cool!

As for not starting, is fuel getting to the engine? Try spraying some starting fluid in the intake and see what happens. It should still start and at least run even though it hasn't been synched.

[digitalsam]

I like the "Flames" on the tank! The paint job is pretty cool!

Thanks, I rattle canned it using about 24 cans of "Cast Iron" ceramic engine paint and another three for the flames. Plus five or six of clear ceramic engine paint over that. I wish I had powder coated the frame, but I sprayed that myself to save money. Coating would have held up better.

I will try your suggestion tomorrow and let you know.

[MeatTooth]

I just had issues with starting mine as well. I found that the tip over switch was stuck and it was cutting the spark in and out so it would almost fire. I unplugged it and it runs great now. I'm going to have to try to clean up the tip over switch cause I'm not going to ride without it.

[Macamon]

OK, with all your advice, I was able to determine that I needed to replace the starter relay. Two weeks later, it came in. (Blasted local shop)...

... Any hints, advice, rude comments?

Photo

This is a photo during the short period when it ran a month ago.

I think the kid would leave you in the weeds...



... Your non-fucntional bike would probably be a contributing factor

[Crazcnuk]

My special was hard starting, if I let it sit for more than a week.

Just pull #1 sparkplug and put 1/2tsp of gas in there, put the plug in and hit the button.

For mine it woud fire right up, and be fine until I let it sit again.