Welding on an assembled bike

[TheSilencer]

Hello all!
I needed to weld one or two little bits for my seat, so I disconnected the battery and merily started welding.
When I reconnected the battery and tried to start, the 'dash lights' came on but there was no swing. Not even a click at the Solenoid.
If I 'bypass' the solenoid with a screwdriver then she starts.

Did I need to disconnect the solenoid before welding? Is it possible that I blew the solenoid by welding with it connected?

[Agemax]

possibly. were you using a mig welder? also have you checked all the fuses are good?
if you used a mig it has to be earthed to the frame, and it pumps out a lot of amps. all your electrics are earthed to your frame as well so it sounds like you have popped something. shorting the solenoid posts out simply makes the connection for the main cables, it doesn't actually switch the solenoid

[TheSilencer]

The only fuse Im able to find on my bike is the fuse on the (+) cable leading to the Starter Solenoid - its still good. This is the reason for my asking about the Solenoid being affected by the welding, which by the way was done with an arc welder.

Does anyone know of a cheap alternative to buying another solenoid?

Just a thought: Would there be any harm in leaving out a Solenoid all together and just having a 'heavyduty' switch that one could flick on and off to turn the starter over?

[Agemax]

The only fuse Im able to find on my bike is the fuse on the (+) cable leading to the Starter Solenoid - its still good. This is the reason for my asking about the Solenoid being affected by the welding, which by the way was done with an arc welder.

Does anyone know of a cheap alternative to buying another solenoid?

Just a thought: Would there be any harm in leaving out a Solenoid all together and just having a 'heavyduty' switch that one could flick on and off to turn the starter over?

have you made sure you have reconnected all the cables back on the battery? check for any cables floating about.
you cannot run the starter without a solenoid, it draws to much current and you will not get a switch which is suitable

[SqDancerLynn1]

If you need a starter solenoid ? Go to the hardware store, lawn mower/tractor? About $15. Apply 12v to the small wire on the solenoid to see if it works

[Macguyver]

Inexpensive Solenoid

I believe this has been discussed before and the general concensus is to go to Lowes or home depot and buy their $14 Garden Tractor Solenoid.
Do a search to confirm this, but I believe it was a fairly simple bolt in replacement.

Best of luck,

*Edit* Oops, Lynn beat me to it.

[salty_monk]

Not sure they have lowes, Home Depot or $$ in South Africa..... Chill out & watch the football instead maybe!

You must have some kind of lawnmower supply / farm supply place nearby, those solenoids are usually cheap everywhere - they are talking about the sit on kind with electric start not pull start obviously.

[TheSilencer]

Thanks for that Salty_monk - very observant! No Home depot or Lowes here in South Africa!

By the way - No football on the television either. (Unless by football you mean Soccer which I doubt?)

But thanks to everyone for all the advice - I get the message. Ill find a 'farming' store tomorrow and purchase a solenoid as suggested. I'm 95% sure I blew mine.

SqDancerLynn1 - I did try the 12V direct to small wire on solenoid earlier. (Sorry - guess I should have mentioned that earlier). The result was nothing. No click. Just nothing. Guess that means the solenoids gone hey!

Thanks again all! Ill post update in a day or two!

[centeno711]

Silencer

Just to back you up no click with direct voltage means no selenoid. sorry bout your luck man

[posplayr]

P.S. I have used a 110V flux wire welder to weld a shock mount bolt back on to my bike after I discoved the poor job done by the PO in the final stages fo my GSXR conversion.

I disconnected the battery completely

Put the ground return as close as I could to the spot being welded. This was on the portion of the shock mount closest to the frame.

I welded right at the end of the shock mount, I had a couple of nuts on the threaded part so I would not splatter the threads.

Basically I only had current going through the shock mounting bolt.

Reassembled, connected battery and there were no other apparent ill effects.

[Wallowgreen]

By the way - No football on the television either. (Unless by football you mean Soccer which I doubt?)

Actually, I bet he does, He's a British gentleman.

[sk843143]

as long as u have a GOOD ground as close to the place that u are welding then u should have had no problems

[salty_monk]

Actually, I bet he does, He's a British gentleman.

Sure I did! I only follow international sports none of these single nation sports such as Baseball, American Football etc

I figured you're in the best place for it....