Author Topic: Lawn tractor relay conversion. Revisited 3 yrs later. (Read 3743 times)

Don R · « **on:** November 08, 2014, 07:46:00 PM »

Has anyone used the china made starter relays from ebay? The one on my xs850 was bad so I put an old CB 750 one on, it's junk too. It clicks but no juice coming out. They are very close to the same and are listed on one ad as fitting either.

I read you can rebuild them but I didn't unsolder the wires on the yammy's relay and broke it. Didn't try the honda one yet.

dave500 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2014, 09:30:36 PM »

ive opened them up and cleaned the contacts,get a few more years out of them.

Don R · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2014, 09:48:08 PM »

Do you need to unsolder the coil wires on the honda relay? That was what did in the one off the yammy. The Ebay replacement is cheap enough and one ad said it replaces cb750 also. The wiring may be different but that's easy. I thought I'd get a couple of them if they're worthwhile.

dave500 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2014, 11:36:24 PM »

I think I did on one,i think if your carefull you can wrangle them to one side to clean the copper contacts,i actually had to build them up with solder,not ideal but its been fine for a few years,the electro magnet in it is great it really snaps hard,the china ones the magnet might be a bit soggy compared?if the contact pressure is weak itll burn the contacts.

Bodi · « **Reply #4 on:** November 09, 2014, 10:57:46 AM »

Just go to your local lawn machine dealer. The solenoid for just about any electric start lawn tractor or similar 12V machine will work nicely. Probably the same as on ebay, but you get to look at it before you buy it.

strynboen · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2014, 11:03:25 AM »

the chinese looks exatly like the orginal relay..even the viring fits..
.but i have one brake up..and keep the starter running. until i got the battery removed.a small tap broke so the return spring not engaged..

so i dont trust them

i have opend some honda relæ ..be care to unsolder the thin vires before lift the cap..i blov some pressured air in the soldering and blov the tin avay

Don R · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2014, 02:45:33 PM »

I dug into the wiring tote and found a nice shiney one on the bottom. It took some tapping to knock it loose but now it's working fine. Thanks for all the feedback.
My brother had a honda one stick once, his bought new '74 750 ended up on it's side, he couldn't get it out of gear in time and the clutch lever got away from him.

Don R · « **Reply #7 on:** November 25, 2014, 03:19:13 PM »

Quote from: strynboen on November 09, 2014, 11:03:25 AM

the chinese looks exatly like the orginal relay..even the viring fits..
.but i have one brake up..and keep the starter running. until i got the battery removed.a small tap broke so the return spring not engaged..

so i dont trust them

i have opend some honda relæ ..be care to unsolder the thin vires before lift the cap..i blov some pressured air in the soldering and blov the tin avay

Yep, me too. not worth the $9 for sure. It sticks on no matter how careful I am to not twist the studs. it's hard to get a 10mm behind the cable to hold back but I did.

cougar · « **Reply #8 on:** November 25, 2014, 07:10:26 PM »

If your Not concerned with OEM. Local parts house and get 1 for a Ford ! 2 main posts (bat. in bat. out) some come with 2 little posts some only 1. Doesn't matter as you only use 1 anyway. And will handle all the Amps your bike battery can throw at it. ...cougar... P.S. Only draw back I can think of is the battery posts on the relay will prob. be bigger than the bike cables, but if your in with the parts guy you could probably find the same style (Ford) with smaller posts .

Don R · « **Reply #9 on:** November 25, 2014, 08:32:05 PM »

I already tried one cougar, too big for the space and the cables don't fit but I like the way you think! Honestly it's a cb750 start relay on an 850 yamaha, the relay fits I was hoping to find an inexpensive replacement for them both.

cougar · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2014, 07:15:37 PM »

I understand the space constraints and I was afraid the ends situation

. My thinking comes from never having the $$ get what I need so I make do with what I can find , modify or make LOL ! ...cougar...

HondaMan · « **Reply #11 on:** November 26, 2014, 08:08:45 PM »

Both my book (pages V-16 and V-17) and several posts in the FAQ or maybe Tech section here show step-by-step how to rebuild your old one. I did mine first in 1990-something, and again in 2006 (for the book). It's not hard, takes just a small screwdriver. 10mm wrench, and a fine-toothed flat file.

Don R · « **Reply #12 on:** November 26, 2014, 09:09:32 PM »

Thanks, HM. This is a Honda relay in a yamaha. I took pity on my Honda parts and put a lawn tractor relay in the beast. I figure it must be heavy duty, what's harder to crank than a big Briggs single cyl?
After a hacksaw job on the bracket and a little trimming it fit right in the rubber holder. I made a wire adapter from the original junk and it even sounds better cranking.
Besides, I didn't get my own Honda book yet and it's my brothers turn to read the one we share again. waaah.

HondaMan · « **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2014, 06:17:34 PM »

Quote from: Don R on November 26, 2014, 09:09:32 PM

Thanks, HM. This is a Honda relay in a yamaha. I took pity on my Honda parts and put a lawn tractor relay in the beast. I figure it must be heavy duty, what's harder to crank than a big Briggs single cyl?
After a hacksaw job on the bracket and a little trimming it fit right in the rubber holder. I made a wire adapter from the original junk and it even sounds better cranking.
Besides, I didn't get my own Honda book yet and it's my brothers turn to read the one we share again. waaah.

This sounds promising!
Can you make a picture of it?
The cafe' guys around here always want "something different from stock" to show off on their bikes. The ones with the Wiseco pistons in them could use some extra cranking power, too. I usually have to polish up the start solenoid's copper bar and contacts but good on those to make them work very well.

Don R · « **Reply #14 on:** November 27, 2014, 07:12:48 PM »

Yes I can. I should have done a write-up as I went, when I do that it doesn't work out lol.

Don R · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:50:27 PM »

I just did a successfull GL1000 conversion, same relay as a cb750, pics in camera. Camera in shop. I'll try to post them tomorrow.

Don R · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2015, 10:22:28 AM »

They are out of order but you get the idea, I lost the pic of the package, I'll get the part number. It's from the lawn tractor display at Advance auto parts.

Don R · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2015, 10:26:04 AM »

Don R · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2015, 10:31:31 AM »

I removed the old junk stock relay, trimmed the brackets from the replacement, I left one for a ground since it's a one wire relay. I modified the old wiring to reach the new connections. Inverted the rubber mount and slipped it into place on the new relay. slipped the assembly over the factory tabs, connected the wires and it spins like crazy.
I'm not saying it's the best quality but it's way better than the cheap replacements on Ebay. I'm sure still made somewhere cheap, it's around $10.

It's worked on a GL1000 and an XS850. I'm sure the same technique will be good on any smaller CB too.

Don R · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2015, 07:18:37 AM »

It has come to my attention it's possible the 3 wire solenoid going to ground would activate the start circuit. A 4 wire solenoid should be used to isolate the ground. MTD 725-04439 is one, there is an oregon number too, I don't have it in front of me.

http://www.amazon.com/Stens-Starter-Solenoid-Mtd-725-04439/dp/B005LA9UX2/ref=sr_1_4?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1425049729&sr=1-4&keywords=MTD+solenoid

Oregon 33-431 is another number that might work.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2015, 09:47:42 AM »

Don,

Links show up below that for starters too. Let us know how that works

keep at it!

Don R · « **Reply #21 on:** December 30, 2018, 09:07:35 PM »

Well, I sold that 850 Yamaha and traded the 79 GL1000 for a prettier 78 that's a turd so far and I'm in need of another start relay. I had to look this up to remember how I did it. It should be the same on most any Honda size bike. Maybe it could be in FAQ's.
Do my old photobucket pics show up for everyone or is it just me seeing them?

scunny · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2018, 09:27:41 PM »

I can see them from New Zealand if that helps.

PeWe · « **Reply #23 on:** December 30, 2018, 11:43:58 PM »

I found a cheap solenoid that has almost same size as CB750 stock relay. I added a little vulcanizing taoe around it
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-GP1200-Wave-Runner-Starter-Solenoid-Relay-1997-2001-V-RL14/160690591781?hash=item2569e7d825:g:4u4AAOSwv~xXECqk:rk:3:pf:0

I have not tried it yet. It feels much lighter than CB750 stock.

madmtnmotors · « **Reply #24 on:** December 31, 2018, 05:27:55 AM »

The CB750 solenoid comes apart by simply removing the two screws that hold it together then carefully separating the top from the bottom. Prying open the wire retainer clip that captures the signal wire helps relieve the smaller wires that pass through the cap. A drop of light oil on the plunger, and as for the contact bar it can be flipped over for a new virgin contact surface. I removed the contact buttons from the cap, filed them clean, and put it back together. I may have even replaced the o-rings where the wires passed through the cap.

Good as new!

70CB750 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 31, 2018, 08:48:55 AM »

You can find adult size relay at TSC, it works and it is not expensive.

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Author Topic: Lawn tractor relay conversion. Revisited 3 yrs later. (Read 3743 times)