79 xs11 special NOW Electrical issues

[tyhodge07]

I haven't had time to pick up a meter just yet. I bought another solenoid and it changed nothing, same issues. But yes, I can start by the push start, but only when I jump the in line from batt to solenoid to the little red wire solder joint. I'm not sure if the stator is bad just yet or if the on/off switch area is messed up, etc. Once I get the merger ill be able to run some tests and let you know the outcome then.

[tyhodge07]

Key off and off switch selected I can still jump at solenoid. So the none working push button has to deal with either the ignition switch or the push button assembly. What should I look for or a way to bypass it all to test and find the area bad or not getting a good connection

[TopCatGr58]

The Blue/White wire at the Solenoid is the GROUND that completes the circuit and should energize and throw the solenoid to make it work. Put your large battery jump cable on the BATTERY side/end of the solenoid, and then get a simple jumper WIRE that you can connect to a ground source, and be able to touch it to the solder joint of the blue/white wire, and see if the solenoid will work. IF it doesn't activate the solenoid and starter motor, then the solenoid is bad! IF the solenoid DOES work, then you have a problem with the push button switch, or wire to the handlebar push button switch, grounding of the switch assembly to the bar.

T.C.

[tyhodge07]

If I'm understanding correctly your wanting me to use a wire and place on neg side of battery cable and jump to the blue/white if so, both solenoids do nothing.

[TopCatGr58]

Okay, then you need to check the small RED/White wire that goes to the solenoid for 12 volts. IF there's no power there, then it can't energize the solenoid to throw the switch.

That red/white wire gets its power from the same circuit that also powers the coils bypassing the ballast resistor, it's controlled by the TCI. When you put a battery jumper cable on the large solenoid terminal that goes directly to the starter, it also powers the circuit that feeds the TCI and the coils.

You really need to get a meter, and check for power from the battery first to the MAIN KEY SWITCH, the solid red wire from the battery goes to the main fuse, then to the key switch, then back thru the brown wire to the fuse block where it then splits to feed the other 3 circuits...Headlight/Ignition/Turnsignals.

If the solenoid is not throwing when you ground the blue/white wire, and you're sure the solenoid is working, then it's not getting power to the RED/White wire. Need to find out where the missing "SMOKE" is!

T.C.

[tyhodge07]

I'll grab the meter tomorrow. Just been busy, I've messed with the bike about an hour a couple different days this week whenever I got that chance to. Will have to get to my parents to grab the meter when they get back from vacation.

[tyhodge07]

Does this seem like it will work on the 11 special with what it has. Of course minus the little resistors and such. There's just so much on the bike that I don't want or care for. If this is doable, I'm going to work on getting the wire and building my own harness up. Does anyone know if they sell blank connectors that will plug into the ignition switch, coils, etc. So I don't have to steal from the original harness. Or does anyone have a junk harness they don't need?