Starter button problem

[strom]

Hi guys, a quick question....

I had the starter button problem on my "parts" bike since I got it. The button disintegrated (plastic), but I always glued it together and eventually replaced the button.

However, from day 1, when I push the button, sometimes there will be nothing - not even a click from the relay, sometimes it will turn the starter motor. The connection on the button is cleaned and OK, as far as I can tell. What else should I check?

[bikerphil]

The 2 wire solenoid plug connector sometimes corrodes up. Make sure your grounds are clean too. I had the same problem but mine was the + connection at the starter was corroded.

[CatatonicBug]

I actually had to take my solenoid apart and rebuild it. Sometimes it would just sit there and look at me when I pressed the button. Ever since I rebuilt the solenoid, I get contact every time.

[BA80]

Make sure your getting a good ground to the switch. The older switches were grounded through the the handle bars and there will be just 1 wire(+) running to the button, the later ones had a ground running back into the wiring harness (2 wires). If you've got the older switch and/or paint on the handlebars that WILL cause a problem.

[strom]

Checked a bit further yesterday.... the relay does seem to go click a bit, but it was late and I didnt try to short it and see if its the starter solenoid or the relay. Will post back when I know.

We were doing the pickup coil wire fix... there was a lot of popping through the exhaust at a constant speed.
Pick up coil wires were broken in 5 places (yes, 4 wires). I am amazed it even ran...

[strom]

Well, a bunch of you were almost right.

There are 4 wires (at least) running from that relay.

One is constant battery +
One goes to the starter (these are the fat ones)
One goes to the starter button
One goes to the kill switch (so you cant activate the starter if its in the off position).


The last wires connectors were a bit corroded, and alltho there was 12.5V on the battery (its an old battery that needs replacing anyway), there was only 8V on that last wire. It seems it was not enough to allow the relay to engage the starter.

For any future reference, there is a connector about 10cm from the relay for these wires, you can track it easily, then the wires go into the wiring loom, where you have two a bit larger connectors under the tank. Clean those up and youre home free