starter button
starter button
thanks for the advice Steve, after reading your reply i replaced all 5 fuses (4 10amp, 1 15amp), but the starter is still unresponsive.
if the fuses are not the problem, and the clutch switch has already been bypassed(i have always been able to start the bike without the clutch), then what is next? bad starter?
i am willing but inexperienced, should i take it to the mechanic? of course thats never fun.
again, thanks for reading.
Lets have a quick recap of terms in use here before we go any further. Ignition is what makes the gasoline in the engine burn. Don't confuse that with the starter...the starter is an electric motor that turns the engine while the igniter box sends a signal to the coil and then to the spark plug to ignite the fuel. (the 'ignition' in your car, where you put the key in, is really just a combination power and starter switch)
Ok...if you always could start it with the clutch lever released then the safety switch has probably already been bypassed. But maybe not. I'll have to assume that once the starter failed you at least TRIED to start it with the clutch lever pulled in. If not, go try that first.
Second...it's very unlikely that your starter suddenly failed. Sure, it's possible, but it's an electric motor and will wear out slowly. It will likely turn the motor slowly before it just quits working.
So, the obvious conclusion is that the starter isn't getting any electricity in the first place. You really need a wiring diagram and some practice with electricity. Since you asked someone to tell you if the fuse was good I'll assume your experience level here is very, very limited. You will have a very difficult time working on any electrical problem until you get some basic knowledge of how these circuits work.
Electricity has to have a loop. A complete circle (circuit) from + to -. The positive, +, brings the electricity to the negative side...which is most often the ground...on in the case of these motorcycles, the frame itself.
If the clutch has a safety switch, then the wire from the starter switch goes to the clutch, then to the starter solenoid. If the circuit is broken at the clutch switch then pressing the starter button won't start the bike because there isn't a complete circuit. On most of these bikes, the kill switch (right handlebar) is also in that loop so if it's OFF the starter will not engage.
To bypass the clutch switch you have to complete the loop. So the two wires that go to the clutch handle can be connected...all they have to do is touch. It's easier to trace the wires from the clutch switch into the light bucket, unplug them from the wiring harness and then plug those two wires into each other. That completes the circuit without the clutch switch being able to interrupt the flow. A slightly more complicated way to solve the problem would be to actually fix the switch. I can't recommend you try that.
Now, to solve your problem...
You need to see if you can start the bike without the starter button. If you can, it's the button itself, which can be fixed, but you need some talent in this area. It's more complicated that checking for a blown fuse.
But what you can do is trace the wires from your starter motor to the starter solenoid...and try to jumper it to see if the starter works. The start solenoid is a round silver thing under the seat, near the battery, that has a big red wire attached to it...running directly from the battery. Touching that red wire to the big black wire that goes to the starter bypasses the solenoid, the starter button, and all the wiring in between. That would quickly tell you if the starter has failed.
Once again, we are WAY past checking for a blown fuse. Are you sure you want to do this? Do you have a friend that you can ask?
