Starting issue (clicking when pushing the button)…

[ERM83]

Been a while, and I hope you’re all doing well!! We’re finally getting out of this frigid Pennsylvania winter, and I couldn’t get happier. I changed out my air filters on the last warm day, and now my starter has been acting up.

When I go to start it, it will start to turn (only once), then click quite a bit. It WILL start, it just clicks a bit, then will give a fire, then click some more, a good turn of the motor and if I give’er a little throttle, she’ll stay going / start to warm up.

when it’s warm and say, I get back out of the store….fires up MUCH easier, but still some of the same symptoms. Can anyone help??

P.S.- Brand new battery.

Thanks for any input!!


Eric M

[Schming]

Sounds like you may have to check your connections for cleanliness especially the grounds, if indeed you have 12+ volts at the starter.

[ERM83]

Sounds like you may have to check your connections for cleanliness especially the grounds, if indeed you have 12+ volts at the starter.

Can the hose clamps somehow short the starter?? They aren’t touching it. I’ll try to take a picture on Tuesday (I ALSO need help with routing the fuel lines efficiently), but I’d get some of that clicking BEFORE I changed the air filters & battery, and I’ve move my fuel lines (with the clamps on them) up a bit when cold, and it would turn. Not anymore. I tied doing the same with my newer fuel line setup (putting rags under the metal parts between the motor and the clamps), and it still acted up.

would the starter clutch make any noise similar to this??

a lot of dumb questions in here, and I thank you for your help!!


Eric M

[shutchis]

There are several things that will cause starter motor issues; a weak battery and poor electrical connections are the most common. 1) Let's start with grounds. Years ago I installed an additional ground wire from the starter motor case to the battery ground bolt located on the frame. That fixed one problem. 2) Be sure all the wiring going to from the battery to the starter relay and from the starter relay to the starter motor are good. Clean all the connectors with sand paper and if the wires have signs of corrosion, replace them. Mine were green. 3) you may need to replace the brushes inside the starter motor.

[Schming]

Can the hose clamps somehow short the starter?? They aren’t touching it. I’ll try to take a picture on Tuesday (I ALSO need help with routing the fuel lines efficiently), but I’d get some of that clicking BEFORE I changed the air filters & battery, and I’ve move my fuel lines (with the clamps on them) up a bit when cold, and it would turn. Not anymore. I tied doing the same with my newer fuel line setup (putting rags under the metal parts between the motor and the clamps), and it still acted up.

would the starter clutch make any noise similar to this??

a lot of dumb questions in here, and I thank you for your help!!


Eric M

No the hose clamps can't short the starter unless the hot (+) terminal is exposed and your clamp is grounded.
The fuel lines work best when routed from left petcock to right tee on carb and vice versa.
The starter clutch, could be froze but if you had it kicking over recently I highly doubt it's the culprit.
If you would be able to load a pic we can sort this out.
Also there aren't any questions that qualify to be dumb.

[Radioguylogs]

Starter clutch will sound like a box of rocks or a dying goose when it slips. It will NOT be a "click" if it is failing.

So, you are left with:

(1) Bad battery
(2) Insufficiently charged battery
(3) Corroded starter solenoid
(4) Bad connection(s)
(5) Worn starter motor brushes/commutator
(6) Starter button not grounding circuit
(7) Fusebox corroded
(7) Other?

[ERM83]

Starter clutch will sound like a box of rocks or a dying goose when it slips. It will NOT be a "click" if it is failing.

So, you are left with:

(1) Bad battery
(2) Insufficiently charged battery
(3) Corroded starter solenoid
(4) Bad connection(s)
(5) Worn starter motor brushes/commutator
(6) Starter button not grounding circuit
(7) Fusebox corroded
(7) Other?

1/2: doubt it…it’s brand new, and charged up!

3 / 4: will check!
5: I’m worried that this is the problem…
6: cleaned everything not too long ago involving the start button..
7: nope…changed it to blade fuse box as soon as I got it, and those connections are good to go!

Thanks again everyone, I’ll try to post a video later today!!



Eric

[ERM83]

Forgot to mention something important -

it starts quicker & with less hassle when it’s warm. Could it be the brushes / commutator??

[Radioguylogs]

A few guys on the Honda V4 forum had trouble with starter brushes. However, they had the opposite problem. Their bikes were harder to start when they were warm. I guess it confirms that brushes can be temperature related.

Good luck, hope you find the problem quickly.

[ERM83]

Starter doesn’t look / smell so great…

[DiverRay]

If you can buy the brushes, the rest is easy to fix. Let us know if you need some info on how to do it.

[bikerphil]

Had a problem like yours not too long ago, slow cranking when cold, slightly better when warm. I had an extra starter on hand, problem solved in 15 minutes. Fast cranking now. There are some on ebay now for about $50.

[oldyam80sg]

I have 2 starters sitting in a box-I could sell 1 if interested and in NJ so won't take long to get there.

[ERM83]

I have 2 starters sitting in a box-I could sell 1 if interested and in NJ so won't take long to get there.

Ahhh, damn…I actually bought on on eBay shortly after I posted last, but thank you for the offer!!

Thanks for the help (as always!!), guys…now if the weather and random health issues would knock it off for a sec, I can put this thing in!

Got mine for a grand total of $40. Not too shabby.

[ERM83]

If you can buy the brushes, the rest is easy to fix. Let us know if you need some info on how to do it.

I was all about replacing the brushes (to have the experience if anything else), but thought that it would be easier to just get a new one. Next time though, I’m definitely going to rebuild it. Thanks for your help, man…ALWAYS appreciated!!