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Old Jul 7, 2025 | 12:10 PM
  #51  
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I may have missed it but what wires get hot? or do you simply smell something?

I can teach you very easily how to load test the entire starter and major grounds if you simply have a digital volt meter.
 
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Old Jul 7, 2025 | 12:25 PM
  #52  
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Originally Posted by t150vej
I may have missed it but what wires get hot? or do you simply smell something?

I can teach you very easily how to load test the entire starter and major grounds if you simply have a digital volt meter.
The wire from the solenoid to the starter got very hot. Positive and negative terminals on the battery were hot but those cables were not as hot as the starter. Haven't discovered any other hot wires yet.

I have a digital volt meter..
 
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Old Jul 7, 2025 | 12:44 PM
  #53  
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OK. If the meter has settings. Put it on 10v DC otherwise, most are auto reading. you may need clips, this gets a bit tedious.

Put the negative (-) meter lead on the positive (+) battery post. Not wire or terminal, the post. I usually hold that one and use a clip for the others. Red meter lead on the long post of solenoid and run stater just long enough to get a reading. Write down reading.

Move the red lead to the short post on the solenoid, run starter. Write down reading.

Move red lead to the post on the starter motor. Run starter. Write down reading.
-----------------
Connect the negative meter lead to somewhere on the engine or transmission. Connect the red meter lead to the negative (-) post of the battery. Run starter. Write down reading.

 
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Old Jul 11, 2025 | 05:47 PM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by t150vej
OK. If the meter has settings. Put it on 10v DC otherwise, most are auto reading. you may need clips, this gets a bit tedious.

Put the negative (-) meter lead on the positive (+) battery post. Not wire or terminal, the post. I usually hold that one and use a clip for the others. Red meter lead on the long post of solenoid and run stater just long enough to get a reading. Write down reading.

Move the red lead to the short post on the solenoid, run starter. Write down reading.

Move red lead to the post on the starter motor. Run starter. Write down reading.
-----------------
Connect the negative meter lead to somewhere on the engine or transmission. Connect the red meter lead to the negative (-) post of the battery. Run starter. Write down reading.
battery at 13 v
Long post 4 v
​​short post .5 v

"Move red lead to the post on the starter motor"
Not sure what to do here. I dont see any post on the starter motor.

After testing the short and long post on the solenoid she started smoking. Appears to be coming from the starter or that area. Smoke was coming up through the oil tank at the front of the battery. I killed the dash and handlebar switch. It started turning over on its own. Bolt on the negative terminal post started glowing. All this in a matter of maybe 5-10 seconds.

Have a friend coming by to take a look sometime next week.
 
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Old Jul 11, 2025 | 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by JHD1827
battery at 13 v
Long post 4 v
​​short post .5 v

"Move red lead to the post on the starter motor"
Not sure what to do here. I dont see any post on the starter motor.

After testing the short and long post on the solenoid she started smoking. Appears to be coming from the starter or that area. Smoke was coming up through the oil tank at the front of the battery. I killed the dash and handlebar switch. It started turning over on its own. Bolt on the negative terminal post started glowing. All this in a matter of maybe 5-10 seconds.

Have a friend coming by to take a look sometime next week.
I'm gonna assume the long post was .(point) .4 and short post .5 (I see the dot) that means it's only loosing across the solenoid which is good. Bad part is, the cable is losing .4v under load and that is unacceptable. So either a poor connection or bad cable.

The negative cable (I think) connects to the starter gear housing on backside of the primary. Just a guess, it's what's smoking. Good luck next week.
 
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Old Jul 22, 2025 | 11:49 AM
  #56  
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Friend hasn't made it by.

Was talking to someone else and he suggested I pull the starter and ensure it runs. With the smoke coming from that area I kind of assumed the starter was bad. Pulled and tested and it seems to spin fine. I had to pull the oil tank and exhaust to get it out so I have pretty good access to all wiring. Tested continuity on all the starting system wiring and every thing seems fine. This was done with a power probe. It's hooked up to the battery and has an extra ground. Connect the ground to one end of wire and probe with the other. I get a green light and a beep. First time doing this so not 100% sure that's correct but that's how the instructions explained it. Don't see any damage to wires from cuts, wear, or heat. Starter does smell funny. Also pulled the primary cover to confirm nothing was broken or jammed up.

Still don't why I wasn't getting 12v to the solenoid switch post, exactly where the smoke came from, how and where it was trying to hotwire itself, and why my battery bolt was glowing. I'm thinking I need to hook the battery back up and trace power for 12v from the solenoid, through the switches, and back into the relay? Getting closer and closer to putting it back together and trailering it to a shop
 
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Old Jul 22, 2025 | 05:21 PM
  #57  
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Default Rebuild the solenoid

Get a decent kit from the parts store and rebuild the contacts and plunger assembly and that'll give you a chance to eyeball the inside of it and get it all cleaned up.
Loose wires will make contact areas very toasty. I even had a terminal on the battery melt away on the shovel once from a loose connection.
I'd also install a push button on the solenoid end for just these special occasions. Got them on both scoots with the 5 speed cases.

Griz

 
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Old Jul 23, 2025 | 08:33 AM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by IBDAGRIZ
Get a decent kit from the parts store and rebuild the contacts and plunger assembly and that'll give you a chance to eyeball the inside of it and get it all cleaned up.
Loose wires will make contact areas very toasty. I even had a terminal on the battery melt away on the shovel once from a loose connection.
I'd also install a push button on the solenoid end for just these special occasions. Got them on both scoots with the 5 speed cases.

Griz
I've got a brand new Accel solenoid in it. No issues until the existing solenoid went bad. When I replaced it I've had everything from operational, back to no start, then the smoking. I even bought a second solenoid because I thought I ruined the first replacement. I could see one being bad but two seems a little unlikely. Willing to try if you still suggest.
 
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Old Jul 23, 2025 | 09:33 AM
  #59  
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From: Tejas
Default Wrong decade of starters

Originally Posted by JHD1827
I've got a brand new Accel solenoid in it. No issues until the existing solenoid went bad. When I replaced it I've had everything from operational, back to no start, then the smoking. I even bought a second solenoid because I thought I ruined the first replacement. I could see one being bad but two seems a little unlikely. Willing to try if you still suggest.
My mistake. Your starter is shovel style, but there still is a workaround to bypass all the wiring and just install/make your own "push button" setup. We used a thicker feeler gauge, but this is how it works.

From Jockey Journey website:

"You can make your own "push-button" for the solenoid you already have. Just take a piece of flat stock bolt it to the terminal with the Battery lead. put a bend in it so it is sitting above the other terminal, put you rubber boot back on and when you push the boot you will be basically jumping the solenoid"

Griz
 
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Old Jul 23, 2025 | 02:59 PM
  #60  
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My buddy is on the schedule to come by next week! Should have 1 or 2 guys much smarter than myself over to provide some hands on troubleshooting. Hopefully my next post will be the solution to my problem. Thanks again for all the advise.
 
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