[jacksvtx]

Bike died on a nice 300 mile ride today with a handful of stops. Bike was running flawlessly the entire day. Went to start it up after a bite to eat and it didn’t start. Plenty of power (all lights, wally lights gps everything working) but it doesn’t start. Check the fuses just in case, kill switch etc. Nothing. Spent 45 minutes looking for the possible cause. I can hear the starter switch click when I press it and the headlight goes off as it should when I press the starter.


We were able to get it started by pushing it down a small hill in 3rd gear. It fired up! Had enough gas to get me home and it ran smoothly. Got my butt home and turned it off. Won’t start.

Is it definitely the starter or could it be something else?

 

[MOJO65]

First thing is making sure the battery cables are clean and tight. with a socket or end wrench.

If thats ok check the battery for charge, then have it load tested.

then after that the starter switch could need to be taken apart and cleaned. see this link for directions.

http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/starter.html

PS the more I think about it the starter switch may be your issue.....

 

[jacksvtx]

Thanks Mark. I'm almost certain battery is fine, but I'll check it. I hear the switch click which makes me think its not the switch or any relay. Cleaning can't hurt though and it's an easy to do.

 

[Charlie D]

you can jump across the starter relay it will arc so don't jump to far also make sure it isn't in gear.

If it starts starter is good

Then you either need to check starter relay or the push button switch, I would tend to think it is the relay if you hear it click.

 

[Donut]

you can jump across the starter relay it will arc so don't jump to far also make sure it isn't in gear.

If it starts starter is good

Then you either need to check starter relay or the push button switch, I would tend to think it is the relay if you hear it click.

I agree.
How old is the battery.
Are the battery connections tight.
If the relay is clicking when you push the starter switch even though you think the lights are bright the battery can still be discharged or bad. You cant tell just by looking at the lights. Get a volt meter.
Charge the battery.

 

[knight rider]

not starting

If you have a volt meter connect red to positive terminal on starter black on ground push start button if you hear relay click but no reading on meter relay is bad if there is reading on meter starter is bad

 

[jacksvtx]

you can jump across the starter relay it will arc so don't jump to far also make sure it isn't in gear.

If it starts starter is good

Then you either need to check starter relay or the push button switch, I would tend to think it is the relay if you hear it click.

Charlie. Not sure what you mean. Can you provide me with a little more detail on how to do this? Are you saying to bypass the starter relay? Appreciate the help.

I'll put a volt meter on the battery to be sure, but I have so many accessories on that bike (wally lights, gps, led, two 12v adapters) I'd know if it were the battery. I have a master switch that shuts them all down when I need to. All of them lit up like a Christmas tree and I turned them all off when trying to start the bike. There is no sound other than the starter relay clicking which leads me to think its not the battery. I would think I'd get a little cranking noise if the battery were dying. Also, battery is only a few months old and is connected to a battery tender when not in use.

 

[Charlie D]

Section 18 page 10 shows the relay move the rubber boot and you have a hot from the battery on the left and the wire going to the starter on the right all you need to do is touch both with a piece of metal.

There is also a main fuse there if you haven't checked it yet.

 

[jacksvtx]

I'll go check out that section. Thanks Charlie.

 

[doug48317]

Being your hearing it click to me that rules out the starter button, and jumping the relay like Charlie said will engage the starter. If it starts right up it's probably the relay, if it engages the starter but it won't turn over the engine the battery is weak.

For what it's worth my money would go on either your battery connections are loose or corroded, or you just need a new battery. The same issue/symptom's has come up a lot lately and a new battery is usually the cure.

Here's one with a happy ending
http://www.vtxcafe.com/showthread.php?t=65551

 

[mooneydriver]

Make sure transmission is in neutral if you jump relay terminals. Wishing you well.

 

[jacksvtx]

Okay...here's the verdict. I spanned the relay like Charlie said. Bike fired right up without a hiccup. I'm off to buy a new starter relay. You guys saved my butt again. I was ready to tear into the bike to replace the starter motor. Thank you.

Is the starter relay fairly generic that I can pick up at the auto store or should I look to get the OEM part?

 

[Charlie D]

I couldn't answer the question on the relay but I know Honda cars do use some of the same parts as the bikes.

 

[jacksvtx]

Just ordered it online. You guys think I should be looking further for what caused the relay to go bad? Do relays just fail occasionally? Maybe I should install the new part and count my blessings it wasn't anything more serious? Just wondering if the new one will be fried as well due to a different issue.

 

[The Old Fool]

Jack - since you have 47,000, if it were me, I would clean the starter switch while I was waiting for the relay to come in. Good preventative maintenance - kind of like changing plugs. If you clean the switch early, it will be fine for a long time. If you wait and it starts going bad, it will burn up - $$$$$.

Link to cleaning instructions

http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/starter.html

 

[jacksvtx]

Jack - since you have 47,000, if it were me, I would clean the starter switch while I was waiting for the relay to come in. Good preventative maintenance - kind of like changing plugs. If you clean the switch early, it will be fine for a long time. If you wait and it starts going bad, it will burn up - $$$$$.

Link to cleaning instructions

http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/starter.html

Good advise. Will do.

 

[jacksvtx]

Got the new starter relay today. Bike still won't start. Bummer. Got plenty of power and bike turns over fine if I arc the starter leads. What do you guys think? It's possible I got a bad relay but I'm leaning toward the starter switch. The headlight goes off when I press the start button so I'm not so sure it's the starter switch

 

[The Old Fool]

The fact that the headlight goes off when you push the starter switch just means that those contacts still work. Doesn't mean that the starter relay contacts are working. I vote starter switch. Now the neutral or sidestand switch may have a problem but there is NO downside to cleaning the starter switch.

 

[doug48317]

Just for piece of mind I would try jump starting it before I tore into anything else, if nothing else that would rule out the battery. :kidding:

 

[mooneydriver]

Place transmission in neutral and side stand down, turn all switches on, pull fuse to headlight then use a jumper to go from red wire to yellow wire with red stripe on connector on relay switch. If fuses are good (30A main & 10 Amp), this should activate starter solenoid. This will bypass the starter switch. Should this work...clean "starter switch".