Solenoid burn up
Solenoid burn up
Ok, so I'm a bit confused. I've NEVER had this issue and it is boggling me beyond all belief.
Just replaced all my my electric start circuits and parts. New relay, solenoid, starter, and all the wires refreshed. I've done this before with no issue.
77 FXE
After getting it all back together, I just hit the starter button and it came to life. I did not have the primary cover on and just wanted to check the solenoid. It popped as it should and I immediately let off the starter button.
I did not actually run the starter as without the primary on, the bendix would have no place to spin.
Anyway, the bendix did engage even though it was a little catywampus. So, with all power off, I simply did what I've done dozens of times before and tapped the end of the bendix shaft with a rubber hammer to loosen it off the starter ring gear.
The solenoid immediately burned up in a puff of stink and smoke.
Why did this happen? How is this possible? The solenoid was brand new.
Just replaced all my my electric start circuits and parts. New relay, solenoid, starter, and all the wires refreshed. I've done this before with no issue.
77 FXE
After getting it all back together, I just hit the starter button and it came to life. I did not have the primary cover on and just wanted to check the solenoid. It popped as it should and I immediately let off the starter button.
I did not actually run the starter as without the primary on, the bendix would have no place to spin.
Anyway, the bendix did engage even though it was a little catywampus. So, with all power off, I simply did what I've done dozens of times before and tapped the end of the bendix shaft with a rubber hammer to loosen it off the starter ring gear.
The solenoid immediately burned up in a puff of stink and smoke.
Why did this happen? How is this possible? The solenoid was brand new.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,136
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Couple things,
NEVER use the button unless the end of the bendix shaft is supported true. Several bad things can happen up to cracking the reduction housing on the starter. Beats hell out of the little bearing in it.
Secondly the solenoid was most likely a china import regardless of who sold it. They don't take abuse well at all, takes very little load to let the smoke out.
Check the battery cable locations on the solenoid, could have had them swapped meaning the coil side was still hot.
NEVER use the button unless the end of the bendix shaft is supported true. Several bad things can happen up to cracking the reduction housing on the starter. Beats hell out of the little bearing in it.
Secondly the solenoid was most likely a china import regardless of who sold it. They don't take abuse well at all, takes very little load to let the smoke out.
Check the battery cable locations on the solenoid, could have had them swapped meaning the coil side was still hot.
Thanks for the reply. Points well taken.
I did double check the connections. Short to starter, long to battery as always.
I put another one on that I have, and it works perfectly. I only tapped the starter button to see if the solenoid would pop, and it instantly did. The starter never even ran
I took the fried one apart, and it appears that somehow the battery hot lead grounded out against the side of the housing. There is melted wiring there.
I believe that "Made in China" kind of sums it up.
Still freaked me out. No power to the bike at all, and it just burned up sitting there.
I did double check the connections. Short to starter, long to battery as always.
I put another one on that I have, and it works perfectly. I only tapped the starter button to see if the solenoid would pop, and it instantly did. The starter never even ran
I took the fried one apart, and it appears that somehow the battery hot lead grounded out against the side of the housing. There is melted wiring there.
I believe that "Made in China" kind of sums it up.
Still freaked me out. No power to the bike at all, and it just burned up sitting there.
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jm1211
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Jun 2, 2012 10:37 PM
