79 Sportster will not start
#1
79 Sportster will not start
I have a 1979 XLH 1000 Sportster and it will not start. It was running, I did not get the choke out far enough, and it died as I was leaving the driveway. When I pushed the button to start it back up, nothing happened. The lights are fine, I ohmed out the start button, ohmed out the run switch, have a charger on the battery to make sure it has enough power. When I turn the key the lights turn on like normal and when I push the button it does not do anything at all. I am not real familiar with this bike as I just got it and rode it for a couple days when this happened. Any ideas or pointers?
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
Posts: 11,062
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461 Posts
RE: 79 Sportster will not start
From the starter switch the +12VDC is fed to a starter relay. The starter relay feeds +12VDC to the starter solenoid. If you press the starter switch and hear nothing at all, check the relay. You can test the solenoid circuit by jumping the long large terminal on the solenoid to the small terminal. If the solenoid is OK, it'll pick up and engage the starter.
#7
RE: 79 Sportster will not start
Welcome to the forum. Glad you found us and hope you'll get everything worked out with the ride.
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#8
RE: 79 Sportster will not start
You had some really good pointers there and I feel that I know more of where the problem is. I shorted the starter solenoid and it did fire. Then I put the volt meter on the relay to see the 12volts hit it when I pushed the start button. In putting a meter across the relay as I push the start button I see some change, but not 100% on/off change. This would pretty much confirm that it is the relay switch?
[IMG]local://upfiles/3564/07935BC7239449F59519D8A9923F24EA.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/3564/07935BC7239449F59519D8A9923F24EA.jpg[/IMG]
#9
RE: 79 Sportster will not start
ORIGINAL: jcpr
You had some really good pointers there and I feel that I know more of where the problem is. I shorted the starter solenoid and it did fire. Then I put the volt meter on the relay to see the 12volts hit it when I pushed the start button. In putting a meter across the relay as I push the start button I see some change, but not 100% on/off change. This would pretty much confirm that it is the relay switch?
[IMG]local://upfiles/3564/07935BC7239449F59519D8A9923F24EA.jpg[/IMG]
You had some really good pointers there and I feel that I know more of where the problem is. I shorted the starter solenoid and it did fire. Then I put the volt meter on the relay to see the 12volts hit it when I pushed the start button. In putting a meter across the relay as I push the start button I see some change, but not 100% on/off change. This would pretty much confirm that it is the relay switch?
[IMG]local://upfiles/3564/07935BC7239449F59519D8A9923F24EA.jpg[/IMG]
#10
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
Posts: 11,062
Received 1,211 Likes
on
461 Posts
RE: 79 Sportster will not start
ORIGINAL: jcpr
You had some really good pointers there and I feel that I know more of where the problem is. I shorted the starter solenoid and it did fire. Then I put the volt meter on the relay to see the 12volts hit it when I pushed the start button. In putting a meter across the relay as I push the start button I see some change, but not 100% on/off change. This would pretty much confirm that it is the relay switch?
[IMG]local://upfiles/3564/07935BC7239449F59519D8A9923F24EA.jpg[/IMG]
You had some really good pointers there and I feel that I know more of where the problem is. I shorted the starter solenoid and it did fire. Then I put the volt meter on the relay to see the 12volts hit it when I pushed the start button. In putting a meter across the relay as I push the start button I see some change, but not 100% on/off change. This would pretty much confirm that it is the relay switch?
[IMG]local://upfiles/3564/07935BC7239449F59519D8A9923F24EA.jpg[/IMG]
Being an inveterate tinkerer, I always chunk the relay and wire the starter switch directly to the solenoid. Of course the little switch can't handle the current and burns out, so I have an excuse to rewire the bike and put a heavy duty switch that can handle the current somewhere besides the handlebars.
After all, muttersickles don't have wires on the bars! [8D]