Topic: 350f starter solenoid.

[bender01]

It started very slowly yesterday. I figured dead battery. Rode to work 30 minutes at 60mph. Stopped for a coffee and hit the button and got a zzzz sound. Kicked it and took off. Last night nothing but a slowspin to zzz, One kick and home. Put a a meter on the battery. It was fine, charged overnight to be sure. Today I crossed the top terminal on the solenoid with a screwdriver and got the same zz sound. The meter reads 12v at the solenoid terminals. I tried the big wire from the battery and touched the big wire going to the starter and nothing. Wasnt it supposed to spin? Could the starter be locked up or siezed? Tonight i will pull the engine case off and head to the starter to see what else. I still dont know how to read my meter as far as ohms  go. Ive searched but what am i missing . The connections are clean dry non corroded and my meter dips when i hit the starter button and its on the solenoid terminals. Thanks for any advice,ill be back at it at late this evening.

[bender01]

Ive been to the starter. Not much to see there. It seems to be in the solenoid. Should i open it up? Is there a moving item in there?Or just coiled wires?

[Gordon]

Check the battery voltage while trying to start the engine with the starter.  It's not uncommon for a battery to appear to be in good condition but then drop dead when a load is applied to it. 

[bender01]

wouldnt the bike run poorly with a dead battery?  the meter jumps up when i rev it . The battery is 16months old. Could be junk from advance auto. Ill try my 550 battery although it reads the same things on my meter. Back to the shop.

[Spanner 1]

Yes there is a moving part in the solenoid...there  is a  T-shaped metal plunger which makes contact across the terminals when the coil is energized by pressing the start button. Two screws take it apart...clean-up the parts ( it will be obvious !) and shine the big copper contacts and yer done...usually this cures your problem...

[bender01]

Ok thanks Spanner and especially Gordon. The other battery has it starting fast. I still have the same reading on my meter but I havent a clue what im looking at I guess. The battery maybe wasnt new as PO stated. Maybe now it will not be so finicky. Thanks again!
 Ben

[Gordon]

wouldnt the bike run poorly with a dead battery?  the meter jumps up when i rev it . The battery is 16months old. Could be junk from advance auto. Ill try my 550 battery although it reads the same things on my meter. Back to the shop.

The starter motor pulls much more current than any other electrical component on the bike, so it happens fairly often that you'll have a battery that can keep a bike running but go flat as soon as you try to use the starter.