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What’s up guys, got a 90 fxr that’s giving me some starting issues and honestly it’s got me stumped. So here’s the run down. I press the starter button, and the solenoid engages about half way, sending the jack shaft out, then my bike loses all power for about 5 seconds and reboots. Meaning lights shut off and all then it powers itself back up. There is a new lithium battery, just rebuilt the solenoid, and tried a couple different relays I had lying around. I’ve bench tested the starter and everything works as it should off the bike. Testing the blade connector that engages the solenoid it holds power when disconnected and I press the handlebar switch. Arcing the posts still cranks the starter over. Seems to only be losing power when the solenoid is engaged.
Have you tried another battery that comes off a bike that is NOT having "issues"..???
I fell into the "can't be the battery...it's brand new" trap a few years back. Ended up with a bunch of new parts on the shelf before discovering that my brand new battery was the problem.
Just a thought.
Check your main circuit breaker. Not sure on the 90, my 94 is on the front of the splash guard.
Sound's like it's weak and tripping, they're self resetting. That would explain the loss then reboot of power.
When testing the signal circuit (the green wire between the starter relay and the solenoid) for voltage, it should still be connected so that the circuit is under a load (actually, all circuits should be tested while under a load).
Leave the wire connected, and read the voltage when pressing the start button.
You can put the probe of your meter into the connector at the relay green wire terminal, or slide the connector off just enough to expose the blade terminals on the relay.
If you can`t get at the relay connector, you can make up a little jumper wire which allows you to keep the circuit connected and gives you a place to connect your voltmeter:
Jumper wire installed
With this jumper wire installed, you can test the signal circuit while it is under a load.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Sep 15, 2020 at 08:59 AM.
When testing the signal circuit (the green wire between the starter relay and the solenoid) for voltage, it should still be connected so that the circuit is under a load (actually, all circuits should be tested while under a load).
Leave the wire connected, and read the voltage when pressing the start button.
You can put the probe of your meter into the connector at the relay green wire terminal, or slide the connector off just enough to expose the blade terminals on the relay.
If you can`t get at the relay connector, you can make up a little jumper wire which allows you to keep the circuit connected and gives you a place to connect your voltmeter:
Jumper wire installed
With this jumper wire installed, you can test the signal circuit while it is under a load.
I did this as well and it dropped from 13.x volts directly to 0 when tripping the breaker
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Starter issues
