A couple of new issues

[Bassman]

Hey all, long time no post here.

I know this first issue is on the forums somewhere, but I cannot seem to find it again.: I finally got the bike out of winter storage about a month ago (life is too busy!) and rode it to work. On the ride back, I made a stop at the bank. When I got back on the bike, it started up just fine, but the engine continued to turn over after that! I asked the advice of a mechanic friend and he said it sounded like the starter solenoid may have gotten stuck open. I replaced the solenoid and rode to work the next day. Everything went fine until I got home, shut the bike off to go open the garage door, restarted the bike to take it in, and it did the same thing and continued turning over. It seems as if the bike will start up fine if it is cold, but as soon as it is warmed up (riding for 15-20 minutes) and restarted, it has this issue.

The second thing I have run into, is my turn signals: when the engine is off, the turn signals cycle just fine, but go haywire and blink intermittently when the engine is turned on. (Turn signals are LEDs and the flasher is a no-load flasher).

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[bikerphil]

Might want to check the starter button mechanism, it can get internally stuck and may cause a condition as you describe, it supplies a ground to the solenoid when pressed to crank the starter.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Bassman,

It sounds like you've got some wiring issues! The ground wire that is activated when you push the starter button may have some short in it, so that it keeps trying to activate the starter. I would disconnect the wire that goes to the starter button at the solenoid, and then use a separate jumper wire to activate the starter so that after the bike is started, you can disconnect the jumper wire. Then when you shut it off, you should NOT hear the starter still running. IF it acts normally, then you know the starter button wire has gotten an intermittent short or such rubbed into it that is probably hitting the frame/grounding somewhere.

Same kind of thing for the turn signals....the LEDS are sensitive to very low levels of power/current. IF there's a floating ground somewhere, it can backfeed thru the ground wire to the LEDs and cause problems.

Check your main ground wires for corrosion and such...battery to frame, engine to frame strap on the starter casing, as well as the multiple ground wires at the Reg/Rect under the tank. Folks suggest making/running an extra few ground straps/wires from the frame/reg/rect location directly to the battery ground wire to ensure full proper grounding back to the battery, not just thru the frame!

T.C.

[Bassman]

Thanks for the tips guys!

I forgot to mention that the engine continued turning over even after I turned the key to the OFF position. Maybe this can help narrow down the issue?

Thanks!

[GLoweVA]

Thanks for the tips guys!

I forgot to mention that the engine continued turning over even after I turned the key to the OFF position. Maybe this can help narrow down the issue?

Thanks!

So, after replacing the starter solenoid the starter still spins after you turn the key off?

BAD (Sticky) SOLENOID.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Bassman]

Ok, so my next question would then be what solenoid to go with? Obviously the two that I have gotten new off ebay have been duds, so there must be a better one?

[Bassman]

Or could there be something happening that is frying the solenoid and fusing it open?

If I let the bike cool down, it starts up fine, it just seems to have the issue when the bike has been running awhile

[GLoweVA]

You indeed may have some other issues to look into.

Somewhere here on channel 11 I've seen a rebuild thread on taking apart the solenoid and 'refurbishing' it.
They may just be a lilttle sticky and need some TLC. (they are 30yrs old too)

As far as the heat issue, it may be that your electrical problem only rears its ugly head when the bike is hot. Some electrical connections may need some cleaning too.