I have a 86 FXRS that has experiences a possession of the electrical demons. The bike wont crank, burp, churp or anything. Last ride out was perfect. Parked it and went back out to find this.

The bike has the 3 position ignition switch and start button. I have checked the ignition and button with a meter and appear to be working normally. When you turn the ignition on the entire starting system circuit goes hot. The wires to the start button, past it on to the solenoid, and then all the way to the starter go hot. They go hot without me ever pressing the starter button.

Is this a case of the solenoid burning up and causing this or is this a bad ground causing the system's current to take all paths to ground?

 

Could be a bad switch or relay

 

There is a direct short in your wiring. When you switch the key on, it activates the circuit that is shorted to ground. you need to take your meter and check which wire it is. Hint: unless it's a ground wire, it should read 12 volts, more or less. Hope this helps.

 

Also, you risk a serious fire by turning the key on;with the key off, check the color-coded wires for the one that is shorted to ground -could be a hot wire to the starter switch that has grounded out, or any starter circuit wire that carries +12 volts. Try disconnecting the starter relay to see if that's the problem. Get a schematic at the library, if you need one. Typically, a troubleshooter will start at the load, (starter/solenoid), and work his way back towards the source (battery).

 

Thanks guys. I will pull it apart deeper tonight and run all the wiring out to find it. That confirms what I was thinking. The only thing I hate worse than electrical problems are taxes....