Electrical / Starter Problem

[Deuce]

I did some searching for this and did not come across what I'm looking for (I'm sure its been posted already though)

Anyway the starter on my Warrior does not work. The last time I had it out, the fuse was giving me a connection problem (the original from 93 and it pulled apart) So all I would get is a click / buzz whenever the fuse made a connection. Was not a big problem because I just would pop the clutch that day to continue with the ride. Now I've changed the fuse and all that happens is I get a click from the front square relay (relay in the middle out of the 3) when I hit the start button. If I hold the clutch in the click is louder/stronger. Anyway all it does is click once as I hit the button (as any relay should). I do not get any buzzing from it, just a click when the button is hit.

Does anyone have any insight as to what it is, or what I could check next? I have no problems working on anything mechanical, but electronics are not my forte'

Thanks

 

[yamarider]

It could be the starter, a bad connection somewhere, or a bad solenoid.

First thing to check is to get a volt meter and see if you're getting about 12 volts at the starter when you hit the magic button.

Try to avoid pop starting it if you can, just get the starter fixed. Every time you pop start it you're slamming the hell out of the starter clutch and they usually don't stand up to that very long.

 

[Deuce]

Well I believe its a bad solenoid. I did not have a volt meter but with my test light I checked it out. There was constant electricity at the starter with a very slight draw (light was dim) and it did not change at all when I hit the start button. Testing it back at the solenoid the side connected to the battery was bright of course, but the other side that has the wire run to the starter was dim and you did not have to hit the start button for it. Maybe I shouldn't have done this but I directly connected the starter wire to the battery to test the starter, and it worked fine with the direct connection. When I took the solenoid off and disconnected all the wires I found that the post which has the wire that runs to the starter seems loose and has a lot of vertical play. So is it safe to say that the solenoid is shot?

The front relay still clicks as I hit the start button, but what the heck does the second (rearmost) relay do? I'm guessing its for lights (which I do not have connected at the moment) but not positive.

 

[yamarider]

Yeah, it's sounding like a bad solenoid right now. I never heard of one allowing a small amount of current to leak through like you're saying, but if one of the lugs is loose in the housing there's definitely something broken inside it.

Your guess is correct, one relay is the starter relay, and the other one is for the headlights.