Starter problems (video included)

[onelogue]

Please help me troubleshoot.

 

[anrkizm95]

get a multimeter and check the voltage on both wires at the starter while cranking.it should be 11.5 min

 

[onelogue]

Ok i'll do that and get back to you. Thank you.

 

[onelogue]

Ok so i used my mulitmeter and got ~ 8.3 volts when pushing the starter button on the little white plug (1st picture) at the bottom of the starter. Im not sure how to check voltage on the bigger main plug though. (2nd pic)
However, from further inspection, i have a lot of oil making a mess on my fan (which doesnt work) and all over that main wire that im trying to check voltage. Could the oil could be shorting out that main wire (to the starter) too? (3rd pic is of the oil mess)

 

[anrkizm95]

oil could have caused the problem.if you have good voltage on the larger wire when you test it remove the small wire and test again,if you have 12 volts on the small wire while cranking with it disconnected the starter solenoid is shorted or has corrosion in it.if you still have low voltage on the small wire with it disconnected while cranking check the start button.this is assuming the battery is good and fully charged and all batt connections are good and tight

 

[50dro]

I had a similar issue when I found my grounds on the rails was bad after I had the rails powdercoated. I know you said you checked there but just to be redundant, make sure you have aluminum to aluminum from the rear of the rails to the frame. This is how I determined it was the ground.

With the jumper cables right to the motor, it fired right up. You may have another issue, but I'd start here.

PS - if your starter is bad, I have a used one that I bought when I thought mine was. I'd probably sell it.

 

[squidbuellie]

I know you said that you have a new battery.... But I would load test it or stick some jumper cables to it and try to see if it will start....
If it starts then you will want to check your charging system then your grounds under the air box.

I would not worry to much about checking the hot voltage on the starter, but if you want to check it disconect the hot off the battery then use some bent nose needle nose to pull back the rubber boot on the main hot on the starter. Then connect to battery and you should have a 11.5-12.05 reading or basically the same voltage as your battery.

 

[onelogue]

With the jumper cables right to the motor, it fired right up. 

50dro, thats a great idea to jump the negative to the motor mount to be sure that I dont have a grounding issue! I'll try that [up], If that's not the case im pulling the starter tonight and if its bad ill definitely try to persuade you to sell it to me

squidbuellie, thank you for the input. I had 12.4 volts to the starter and im almost positive the battery is not the problem cause once the start catches (rare occasion) it has no problem starting the bike. I also have 12v from the starter switch. However, when i tried starting the bike, when it did the loud click the starter switch (little white plug in picture above) dropped to 3.4 volts.

After talking with anrkizm95 on the phone I were are pretty sure that the oil thats leaked all over my fan and starter possible corroded my starter solenoid. So Im pulling the starter tonight and cleaning it and all the oil to see if i can eliminate the resistance in the starter.

 

[onelogue]

One step closer to figure out the cause.

 

[oh9bolt]

[up]

 

[50dro]

Woohoo! [up]

Just make sure you clear the rails of the wrap, paint etc. Loctite should still be used on the bolts. I also added a redundant ground wire (12ga) from the battery to the coil while I was at it. Some question the value of doing so but I figured it can't hurt. I noticed a significant improvement in performance once the grounds were fixed too! Hopefully this will do the trick for you too.

I must say in you video it sounded a little hesitant to start as if the battery was weak. Maybe it was the cold or that you had been trying over and over again?

Keep us posted!

 

[Bello]

50dro for the win!

 

[onelogue]

I must say in you video it sounded a little hesitant to start as if the battery was weak.  Maybe it was the cold or that you had been trying over and over again?

Yup, bike is in a non-heated shed so it was 32degree F. Just cold start.

50dro for the win!

Also to anrkizm95, cause he called my phone and after I told him grounds were good he insisted on going through what else could be wrong. [up]

Im going to working on the grounding today and see if i can solve the problem.

 

[egobuster1]

i will be curious to see what you determine the exact cause because I'm thinking of getting my subframe powder coated and I'm thinking that ill end up have the same ground issues if there is powder in-between the subframe and the main frame connections.

 

[50dro]

^^^have them tape off anywhere that is bare or make sure you clear off the powder in those areas after.