Topic: Won’t start

[Fogcity]

My starter motor stopped turning. It worked fine until: I ran the battery dead trying to start the bike. I charged up the battery, hit the starter button, nothing but a click. Kick starting works fine. I swapped the battery for a new one I had, and also ran a new wire from the solenoid to starter motor and still nothing. Just the click from the solenoid. I assume this means my starter motor went bad but is there a way to test it? Also, is there some other thing I should be looking at (the fuses are good). It’s a cb400f and unfortunately it’s been creatively wired - far from original harness, but it did work. Thanks.

[Medyo Bastos]

Turn key to start position and short across starter relay with a screwdriver.  Does the starter spin? Does your starter relay have a fuse? Does your clutch lever have a switch?


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[tlbranth]

Yep. What Medyo said. Don't jump to conclusions.

[Fogcity]

Thanks, I’ll try that. The starter relay? Is that the same as the solenoid? I’ll check if there is another fuse / switch. Thanks.

[Fogcity]

Also to note, I’m using a lithium battery. I switched to a lead acid to see if it worked. It didn’t.

[toma]

It seems obvious but we have all done it.Check that the kill switch has not been somehow moved from the center position.

[dave500]

the kill switch wont stop the starter motor only ignition.

[ekpent]

 As mentioned jump the two terminals on the solenoid bypassing it and see if the starter turns. If it does give the solenoid a whack with a screwdriver handle and see if it frees up.

[Tomshep]

If the solenoid goes click then the  fault has nothing to do with the kill or clutch switchws. Best to put a test lamp beyween the battery terminal of the solenoid and earth. It should light up and stay lit when you push the button. If it goes out, the motor is shorted or the battery is  dying. Now test lamp between starter motor terminal of the solenoid and earth.  Does it light if you press the button?
Yes?  strip and fix the starter. No? Solenoid.

[Fogcity]

Thanks guys. Touched the starter motor wire to the battery end of the solenoid and the motor turned (with or without the key on - ‘creative wiring’ from the P.O.) So I’ll give the solenoid a whack and if that doesn’t do it, a new solenoid, I assume?

On another note, are any of you in the SF Bay Area who could give me a hand sorting out the wiring (I’m good for food and lots of drinks...).

Thanks.

[Fogcity]

Oh, forgot to ask: when I touched the starter wire to the battery side of the solenoid (and when I connected the two posts via screwdriver) the thing sent sparks like the 4th of July. Normal?

[bryanj]

Yes to sparks and you just proved you need a new solenoid

[Fogcity]

Great. Thanks. Just whacked the heck out of the solenoid and nothing changed. I’ll pick up a new one. Thanks for all the help.

[HondaMan]

You may be able to disassemble it and flip the little copper bar over: that will give the contacts a new surface to work with. You can also polish the bottoms of the 2 bolts that it hits when you engage it.

...provided that one is not the crimped-together starter solenoid, but the one that you can take apart...

[mattsz]

You may be able to disassemble it and flip the little copper bar over: that will give the contacts a new surface to work with. You can also polish the bottoms of the 2 bolts that it hits when you engage it.

...provided that one is not the crimped-together starter solenoid, but the one that you can take apart...

I just went through this - took the original apart and cleaned all the contacts as well as I could, but it didn't help... still clicked solidly, but no connection between the posts.  It never occurred to me to try flipping the copper bar over!

Never mind, last time I needed a new solenoid for another bike, I bought two.  The new one is basically the same - it's can't be opened for service, though.  I simply moved the "colored" wires to the new one.  It even came with a rubber sleeve like the original, which fits onto the bike's holding bracket perfectly...