Start button not working

[xs11head]

After the trans fix, I installed new tires. I rode the bike around as my work schedule and weather permitted. Everything was good until the start button stopped working. I can short across the terminal lugs on the solenoid and it starts and runs fine. Could the ignition switch be the culprit? I disassembled the rh switch and everything looks good (no broken wires, no corrosion). I also have continuity from the start button wire to the solenoid and the kill switch to solenoid. The lights and signals all function as they should. Oh, I also checked between the start wires ( the soldered ones from the kill and the start button) at the solenoid and the ohms are within spec.

[DGXSER]

The path goes from the battery to the key switch/main switch/iginition switch whatever you want to call it. The power goes back to the fuse box through the large brown wire. That wire splices into three inputs into the fuse box, one of which goes to the kill or emergency stop switch. That is the red/white wire. The red white wire then goes back to the starter solenoid as power. The other smaller wire on the solenoid switch goes to the starter button which simply completes the ground for the solenoid.

I would start by bypassing the start button by grounding the other side if the solenoid. with the key on and the emergency stop switch in the on position, take a jumper wire from the low side fo the solenoid (I forget the wire color and feelin to lazy to look it up right now ) to the negative terminal of the battery, its right there anyway. If the starter cranks, then your start button is suspect. If it does not, then I would take apart the emergency kill switch and jumper across it with the start button pushed in and see of that turns the starter. If it does, suspect that switch. If it still does nto turn over then suspect a connection at the fuse box since you have power to other things.

I checked this same thing out on another members bike. He had just completed upgrading the fuse box. One of his terminal connections was only connecting intermitently. We cut it off and remade that terminal and it worked great.

[bikerphil]

Ground the blu/wht wire at the solder joint on the solenoid. The engine should crank. This bypasses the starter button.

[DGXSER]

Thanks Phil, I could not recall the color on that one and it has been a long day.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Guys,

I think you forgot something. He said he can cross the solenoid, and it starts. This ofc bypasses the solenoid function. IF grounding the blue/white wire doesn't cause the starter to engage, it could also be a stuck or broken solenoid!? True, he needs to rule out the emergency kill switch being faulty which would prevent the starter circuit from working, but he can also remove the solenoid and test the small connectors to see/hear if he can hear it CLICK throwing the solenoid switch. IF the solenoid is silent, it could be faulty!?

Folks have taken the solenioid apart, found corroded contacts, cleaned and put back together and worked fine. The solenoid is easily replaced with aftermarket types, see recent threads about solenoid!
T.C.

[Athedra]

Havn't had a proper look at the XS solenoid, but here is how I test them at work.

You have the earth (From what I read a blue-white wire). Then you will have the main in, and main out, and then you will have another wire which will be your trigger (possibly red-white, sometimes black-red). Take a wire from you Main in (Battery to solenoid), and touch it on your trigger wire. If she turns over, then your problem is in your wiring system. If she doesn't turn over, then your problem is the solenoid.

[DGXSER]

Athedra, that would typically be a great test, except in the XS11, they put the starter button inbetween the earth or ground from the solenoid to the frame. So if you put power to the red/white wire on the low side of the solenoid, but you do not have the start button pushed or if the start button is bad, you get nothing.

[Athedra]

Didn't know that, thanx. As mentioned I havn't had a look at the XS solenoid wiring.

Will remember when mine starts bugging out.

[xs11head]

I'm thinking solenoid at this point. I can ground the blue wht at the sol and it doesn't do anything. I took the kill switch apart and connected the red/wht wires and still nothing. I checked the blue/wht and the red, wht and there is continuity from the handlebar switch to the sol. I tried a solenoid from another bike but it may not be the same wiring setup.

[xs11head]

By the way the start button was working and then was intermittant and now not working.

[xs11head]

I want to get a new solenoid. What is the best source for one? Any cross reference #? Thanks

[DGXSER]

Try here

They carry it, lok about 3/4 down the page.

[xs11head]

OK everything is good now. I went through the troubleshooting process in the manual again, and then again tried grounding the blu/wht solder joint from the solenoid and it cranked over. When I tried the blu/wht to ground previously, I had the handlebar switch apart and that all has to be reassembled for the button to work. blah blah blah . Since the starter cranked from the test lead, I installed another start button from a spare RD350 switch and and voila. Its all good now.