Hi,
Will a defective relay cause the following? The battery is OK but sometimes when I press the starter button I just get a click, after I press it many times the bike starts and also sometimes while idling at a light the bike will just shut off like a plug was pulled. I hit the start button and it restarts. I have checked the battery cables, connections etc. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

Not to seem like a smart ***, but how do you know for certain your battery is OK? Age and static voltage checks mean nothing. A proper load test from any auto store will confirm condition. That's where I would start first.

 

As well as the battery, it might also be worth checking the condition of your main circuit breaker and the wiring connections to it.
It should be located on the plastic splash guard in front of the rear wheel.
Any suggestion of an issue then replace it.
Also check the condition of your ignition switch and connector to it. They can suffer from corrosion and also the switch can suffer from dry connections internally. The back of the switch often has a large circlip that can be removed to make sure contacts inside are clean. A few small bits in there including springs so if you do it be gently and observant.
Your starter relay could well cause starting issues, I think that goes without saying but it would not cause the bike to cut out.

 

There's a little cube relay under the seat throttle side near battery, on mine the internal contacts didn't always make contact even though it clicked. I replaced the 16 year old one, then the 2 month old one failed.
So I took it apart, bent the contacts for better contact when activated and put it back in.
I also added a push button to the back of my starter solenoid for added insurance.

 

Man, I wish I had that luxury on my 1988. have you seen the gizmo I'd have to attach to my solenoid? I'd might as well add an HD kicker and be done with it...

 

OP's got a 93', figured I have a 94' it's a nice piece of mind.

 

Hell Yeah Bro...

 

I had one of the push button back ups on my 93....I thought the wiring was getting old an unpredictable so I added it for peace of mind. It's kinda weird to use lol...not natural at all.

 

I had a 91 FXSTC and my starter relay bit it and I recall similar symptoms. It's a cheap item and easy to replace so I'd get one because you're probably running the factory original.

 

I second (or third or forth) the push button on the solenoid for extra peace of mind. It's got me home a time or two.


While you have the end cap off the solenoid, pull out the plunger and clean the copper main contacts with fine sandpaper and polish them. You'll probably find they're black and pitted from arcing over the years. Reassemble with a bit of grease on the shaft and you'll be amazed at how much better the bike will start. In fact, even if you DON'T install the push button, clean the contacts anyway.