Starting Problem

[emoyer]

Hi everyone. I hope some folks will have some ideas about this. Sorry it is long.

Occasionally when I push the starter button on my pre-gen, nothing happens. This started maybe 1500 miles ago and has been happening with increasing frequency.

At first I thought it was a problem with one of the safety switches, so I would work the clutch a few times and put the kickstand down and back up, and hit the button a few more times, and eventually it would crank.

A couple nights ago I noticed that even though "nothing happens" when I push the starter button, the neutral & oil lights dimmed a little, which makes me think current is going somewhere, which I dont think would happen if one of the safety switches was preventing a start.

Today it happened again and it was the worst ever. I might have pushed the button 25 times, along with checking fuses, etc. When I finally got home and put the bike back on the battery tender like i always do, it took maybe 6 hours for the LED to go green, which is much longer than usual. So it seems like what happened really clobbered the battery.

So what I am wondering now is whether there is something wrong with the starter motor, that it just sometimes lets current run through but doesnt turn. Does this make any sense? If I put a voltmeter between the wire to the starter and the frame when the problem happens, and if I get 12 V when I push the button, would this prove that the motor is the problem??

Any other ideas?? Thanks. --Eric

[86ninja]

Battery is weak or the starter solenoid

[Mocha Man]

I noticed the same problem today. Sometimes unless I have it fully choked the bike won't even sound like it's trying to turn on, even if it has already been warmed up earlier.

Also, sorry for the lack of my correct terminology. I'm still learning all this stuff

[JLinde1339]

I have had this problem on my 01. I usually fiddle with the key (turn it to off then on) and it will start. I thot my issue is the ignition

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by emoyer

Hi everyone. I hope some folks will have some ideas about this. Sorry it is long.

Occasionally when I push the starter button on my pre-gen, nothing happens. This started maybe 1500 miles ago and has been happening with increasing frequency.

At first I thought it was a problem with one of the safety switches, so I would work the clutch a few times and put the kickstand down and back up, and hit the button a few more times, and eventually it would crank.

A couple nights ago I noticed that even though "nothing happens" when I push the starter button, the neutral & oil lights dimmed a little, which makes me think current is going somewhere, which I dont think would happen if one of the safety switches was preventing a start.

Today it happened again and it was the worst ever. I might have pushed the button 25 times, along with checking fuses, etc. When I finally got home and put the bike back on the battery tender like i always do, it took maybe 6 hours for the LED to go green, which is much longer than usual. So it seems like what happened really clobbered the battery.

So what I am wondering now is whether there is something wrong with the starter motor, that it just sometimes lets current run through but doesnt turn. Does this make any sense? If I put a voltmeter between the wire to the starter and the frame when the problem happens, and if I get 12 V when I push the button, would this prove that the motor is the problem??

Any other ideas?? Thanks. --Eric

sounds like a short in the starter circuit before the solenoid. like on the wiring connector that goes to the solenoid.