I love my 77 Shovel, and hate thinking of replacing her. I just got her bake from a "shop"...who was s'post to have checked her completely over..after $1200 I am reluctant to return her there!
Problem: I have trickle charged a new battery they put in, checked the amps before I started her (which I have to kick), checked the amps after which they semm to show the battery is charging. Problem is my electric start button will not start her. I get a 'click' and that is it. Using the button always seems to discharge my battery completely.
Is it a grounding wire possibly or what?

 

Check the starter relay that is attached to the bottom of the battery tray. Make sure it is tight but they do go bad. You can jump the connection there and if it turns over it's the relay.
WUZFUZ

 

What does the receipt say what work was performed (or not). Probably a good starting point on wether to take it back.

Basically you have a battery, voltage regulator, stator, solenoid and starter motor that work together to start motor and keep it running once started. And then there are the gazillion wires running everywhere.

Problem more than likely is not the battery. Clicking sound may mean the solenoid. Have you tried putting a screwdriver across the posts of the solenoid to see if the starter motor engages. If so, that may be the source of the problem.

Another thing to check is the pin connector that goes from the regulator to the stator. Don't think in 77 MoCo had figured out that they vibrate loose. Later bikes they added a wire off the engine bolt to keep pressure on the connector.

What history do you have on the bike? Pressing starter button and ending with a discharged battery is some serious draw of current. If you have the stock handlebar switches it is just a couple of screw to disassemble the unit. Pinches wires can be the reason for what may be shorting out the system.

Sounds like it is time to get yourself an OEM shop and parts manual. If you own a shovel you need to learn to do most of the maintenance on it yourself. Helps if you breakdown on a long trip and you are on the side of the road diagnosing the problem.

 

Thanks Baby - will do. I can jump it off off the silinode (I don't think I spelled that rite! ). Have screw driver will 'usually' travel!

 

Had bike since '92. To my knowledge from previous owner, and by looks, all stock.
I do hv itemized (always!!) shop sheet. New battery. I know it's always an illimination game...can't be simple! I can jump by screw driver off solenoid. My bike was just an FX, a friend (yeah, he knows bikes..... ), put an electric starter on it in 98 or so. Just started this crap in last couple years. I don't mind kickin it over and usually have no problem but...GOD the guys with their Evo's whine!!!!! Get off your fat comfy *** or shut the __up!! Anyways, I will check wires also. Anything else you can think of is always appreciated.

Thanks Hon - Gypsy

 

Good thing with the FX is that your ignition switch is 3 simple poles. Cannot be rebuilt if bad though, only replace. Manual talks about checking charging system, starting with battery, then checking for corroded loose wiring in charging circuit. Also says to check for tight connection where regulator connects to engine crankcase for proper grounding.

Beyond that you need an ammeter and a volt meter to do the elimination game of which component is defective.

Is wiring (except for what you added) stock? How many miles on the bike when you got it? How many miles have you added since? Ever checked stator, voltage regulator ever replaced?

Think I would check starter button first. Simply two wires that when you press down on button connect the circuit to engage the starting system. Are the wires run through the bars or mounted on outside? Either way you should be able to pop the screws lift the plate up and inspect and do a visual on the wires.

Electrical gremlins can be a real pain...

 

Wiring stock.....probably, except for some which has recently been replaced due to some corrision. Miliage says 25,000 but odometer was not hooked up so I'm sure it's more....I never hooked it up either, I just run off RPM's. If I don't see patriotic colors flashing behind me-I'm good.
That speedo isn't gonna really stop me from speeding if I want to bad enough! Bad habit, formed when I was younger.

Stator & regulator have been replaced but I have found that voltage regulator on most older bikes usually ends up being the culprit!
Gypsy

 

Never replace a shovel! Just buy additional bikes. It's probably not a ground issue because you can jump it from the solenoid. I would pull the solenoid and disassemble it, checking the contact plate. It's probably all scarred up from the arcing which is normal. You can either clean the plate or flip it over if it hasn't been flipped already. The scars from arc are probably reducing the current going through to the starter. Seen this hundreds of times in my experience, most of them on my own bikes. :-)

Where abouts in Wisconsin are you from? Just west of Sheboygan for me, a liitle spot called Kiel.

 

Nice Pic - - I'm from Marshfield.

 

Oh hey...had a 50 pan - foot clutch, suicide shift 25 yrs ago and a pan with 12 over being built........lost in my 2nd divorce.

Just thought I'd tell ya that!

I'll try everything you sugested and get back at ya.

Later - Gypsy