Starter? Ignition? Short?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
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Starter? Ignition? Short?
So here's a weird one from today. Rode the bike into work, everything seemed fine.
When I went to lunch, it didn't want to start. Turned the ignition on and the lights came on just fine. Switch to run, makes all the right noises. Hit the start - the starter starts making its normal noise for a second or two, then a loud click. Lights off go off. They come back, I try again, same thing. A couple more iterations of this. I was getting off to go ride to lunch with whatever coworker I could find, but tried it one more time - and it started fine. After lunch it also started fine.
Same thing after work. I had actually gone and found a friend with jumper cables - after loosening the seat of course it started just fine. Now, in the garage, all I get is the very loud click when I hit start.
I'm not sure it's the battery - the lights and stuff come on when i flip the ignition... but I plan on putting on the charger just in case. Wondering if there might be a starter problem or something? Any ideas?
When I went to lunch, it didn't want to start. Turned the ignition on and the lights came on just fine. Switch to run, makes all the right noises. Hit the start - the starter starts making its normal noise for a second or two, then a loud click. Lights off go off. They come back, I try again, same thing. A couple more iterations of this. I was getting off to go ride to lunch with whatever coworker I could find, but tried it one more time - and it started fine. After lunch it also started fine.
Same thing after work. I had actually gone and found a friend with jumper cables - after loosening the seat of course it started just fine. Now, in the garage, all I get is the very loud click when I hit start.
I'm not sure it's the battery - the lights and stuff come on when i flip the ignition... but I plan on putting on the charger just in case. Wondering if there might be a starter problem or something? Any ideas?
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
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RE: Starter? Ignition? Short?
Had the same problem a couple of months ago. Don't know exactly what it was butthe winning theory is that a relay for my airhorns was shorting out on the frame under the seat. I moved it and haven't had a problem since.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 429
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From: Southampton, Pa
RE: Starter? Ignition? Short?
Usually if the lights stay on when you hear the click it's a bad relay or cable at the starter, as long as when it does start it starts normally. I would be looking for a loose ground or relay going bad or even a loose wire somewhere, maybe the seat is pushing on something. I know when I installed the PC3 in mine that there is not alot of room for things under the seat.
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Cruiser
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RE: Starter? Ignition? Short?
Loose ground? Seat pusing on something? Might be!!! Look what I found when I went to pull the battery last night after posting:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...4/DSC00429.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...4/DSC00430.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...4/DSC00429.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...4/DSC00430.jpg
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 429
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From: Southampton, Pa
RE: Starter? Ignition? Short?
Lookslike the terminal melted, makes you wonder what would have caused it. If it was the positive terminal I'd be looking at a short, but if its the ground maybe it developed a crack and when you tried to start it the starter draw was too much and melted it. At least you found something.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
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From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: Starter? Ignition? Short?
Also check the relays to make sure they are properly seated or plugged in. I had a problem with the wife's sporty kinda similar and the relay had dome partially out. It looked fine but needed to be pushed back in all the way.
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Cruiser
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RE: Starter? Ignition? Short?
The best idea I can come up with is the ground screw worked itself loose (possibly I didn't get the cable out of the way of the seat when I put it back on), and the loose connection made enough heat to melt the terminal. All things considered, I'm glad this was all that happened and not anything worse!
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