Topic: HELP! Charging/Electrial issue

[lowcounrtry86]

Hello,
This is my first time on the forum....great website!

I have a 1976 Honda CB550F

I am not too versed in the electrical side of things, but here are my symptoms:

- the starter does not do anything when I push the button. There is no clicking sound. When you push the starter button, the neutral light does dim a little bit. I am able to kick start the bike, but it seems to take forever, even after I have ridden it for a while. Before if i had ridden it for a while and turn it off, one kick would start it.

- if it is idling and I turn the head light on or turn signals, the bike will die. If i am up to speed, say going 30 or so. I turn the light on and it starts to die, but if i flick it back and forth, the light will stay on

-Another clue, these problems had existed and the bike sat in a driveway and was knocked over by a neighbor. The first time i started it after it was knocked over, the starter worked and all the problems seemed to be fixed, but it went back to normal.

These are the clues and I am not really sure what direction to take. It seems like it may be a short somewhere, or a bad connection. Or maybe the solenoid got stuck and the bike getting knocked over fixed it temporarily? The battery is fine. I just need some direction!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Kevin

[74750k4]

The starter switch is not "forever". They get worn/corroded/dirty. How old is it? It takes some amps of current flowing through those contacts to fire the starter solenoid winding. If you're switch is tired/broken ...  ain't gonna happen.
Always other possibilities. Stuck solenoid (rusty?) Shorted solenoid windings? Crappy wire connections? Low battery? Just a few...

[Sprocket75]

Seems like a short to me as well, but also a battery voltage/and/or stator charge issue. Have you tested the output voltage? What about the ground and power wires? Loose connections? Poor ground? Also check the solenoid connections as well and verify that it clicks when the trigger is sent to it. Check the starter wire connections at the switch...maybe some CRC in there. I would start with a bad power/ground connection first, then by process of elimination, work my way to the battery and charging circuit.

[TwoTired]

- the starter does not do anything when I push the button. There is no clicking sound. When you push the starter button, the neutral light does dim a little bit. I am able to kick start the bike, but it seems to take forever, even after I have ridden it for a while. Before if i had ridden it for a while and turn it off, one kick would start it.

When was the last 3000 miles/ 6 months tune up check list performed?

The battery is fine.

...and you know this by voltage measurement?  Please report the voltage.

[lowcounrtry86]

I pulled the starter solenoid off the bike. I performed the primary coil continuity test (with the two wires coming out of the solenoid) and there was continuity. There is no continuity when connecting the leads. I used a 12V battery to test the coil and I did not hear a click. I have never replaced the starter solenoid since I have owned the bike ( I have owned the bike for about 7 years)

While the starter solenoid was still on the bike, I tried connecting the leads with a screw driver, but the start button still didn't do anything.

Since the starter solenoid is most likely broken, could this have anything to do with the bike dying when i turn the lights or turn signal on will it is running?