Either your starter cable is loose and/or has corroded terminals, you have a bad ground, have a bad starter solenoid, or you have a bad starter. Ideally, it should be around 12.4-6V. Set all the interlocks to allow starting: PTO not on, brake applied, both handles at neutral, seat occupied. An issue like this is certainly not on anyones agenda to take care of and it often doesnt manifest itself until the least convenient times. A starter relay not working will give specific signs. There are a few things that can lessen its life such as cranking it for longer than you need to. Mar 12, 2011. Now, what if youre in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles? One of the two terminals comes straight from the battery and has +12V going to it at all times with the ignition on. and the solenoid is polarizing the starter motor just fine. If the solenoid isn't the source of the click, tracing the sound should take you to the relay on those models. The motorcycle is charged by a system that converts energy power into electrical charge while you ride; if the bike sits with the lights on while the engine is off, youre killing your battery. Meaning of Have You Tried Turning It Off and On Again?, Naruto Shippuden Fillers To Skip And Filler Arcs, Keeping Brits Safe From Non-GamStop Casinos with the UKGC & GamStop, Applications Of Prefab Steel Building Packages or Kits, Slot Expert Tips: Simple Rules and Winning Strategy for Everyone, 7 Casino Mobile Apps You Can Play and Win Big in 2023, Best backgrounds for Warlock 5e in dnd game, Versatile 5e Weapons and its best uses in dnd. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. When you turn the key and the battery is dead, you hear the magnet trying to magnetize the gear which is what makes the clicking sound. If it doesnt, move on to the next switch. So I figured . become too hot and essentially weld together. At that point, my plans for that day were ruined, but I got lucky. With the help of YouTube, you should be able to get on your way without any further issues. Charging a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours. Previous Post Next Post May 13, 2012. Checked the solenoid, that was ok, checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the +. This includes the Positive at the battery and the starter. There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. A motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety of methods. Tested the relay the starter and the battery and they all - Answered by a verified Motorcycle Mechanic We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Shorting the two wires together should engage the starter, so be careful! If you get no response to your test light the solenoid contacts are bad. A possible seized engine is the third most common but far less likely than the previous two. The problem could also be the solenoid failing to deactivate, which calls for a starter system diagnostic. On the other hand, motorcycles arent complicated machinery, especially when compared to automobiles. Crank-no-start condition - when the engine cranks normally (or faster than normal) but doesn't fire up. Im sure its not the battery just got it earlier this year. Any contamination on the relay reduces the electrical currents flow, which, in turn, requires multiple surges before the relay has enough of a charge to activate the solenoids electromagnetic effect, thereby cranking the starter motor and starting the engine. You need to have at least 12.2 volts, or a 50% charge, to get the motorcycle started. Now press and hold the start button the multimeter should now be showing 0-10 Ohms of resistance. Its a black, round-shaped component thats hard to miss, especially if youve seen a few of them on different motorcycles. Both the positive battery cable and the negative cable. no dimming of lights in the process (no clutch switch, kill . It's super frustrating! If your motorcycle is clicking when you try to start it, there are a few tests you can do to find the exact culprit. Vibration can come from just about anywhere in a motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable. i assume it turns over but won't fire. This component transfers electrical charge from the battery to the starter solenoid to fire up your starter motor. Theres nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. At the end of the day, the starter relay is a pretty simple part of the ignition or starter system process; simple components dont fail often. Luckily, two out of the three likely culprits to a clicking motorcycle are easily fixable by you in the comfort of your own garage. Ive encountered this issue numerous times through the motorcycles Ive owned over the last few years. If a bad battery and a seized engine are ruled out, the starter is the source of your motorcycles clicking. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Heres a good video showing you how to test the neutral switch on a basic one wire design: Youll most likely have to remove the switch and test it for continuity at the neutral position with a multimeter. Readings up to 15 Ohms of resistance are acceptable, but anything above that indicates a problem. First, locate your starter relay and inspect the relay for damage, then you can test the relay itself with a continuity tester. Starter Clicks Rapidly, But Bike Never Ignites, 4. 4. 12.2 is already only partially charged, as 12.6% is what they call a fully charged battery. Turn the key again and the car fires right up. Its very rare for a kill switch to go bad, but it might still happen if youre unfortunate enough. Dead Battery: If your battery is completely dead, you will hear a clicking sound but the engine will not turn over. If you find this video useful let me know by. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Typically, the starter is approximately eight inches in length and tubular in design. Now that weve covered the reasons a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it, lets discuss what causes these problems in the first place. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. Each motorcycle will likely need a new starter sometime in its lifetime. Cannon Entities LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. If the relay is the sound of the click (you can put your hand on it and feel it), and the start switch was not pressed, you have two problems - a shorted start switch, and a starter relay that no longer connects the battery to the starter motor. If it comes from the starter, your problem is in the solenoid. Make a list of plausible reasons and theories. Related:Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved). Reconnect it and try again. Another symptom of a failing starter is intermittent starting. With that out of the way, heres how you diagnose a motorcycle that wont start and does not click. As a result, the common signs of a bad starter solenoid include: Engine Doesn't Crank or Start. Properly charging your battery may take as much as 8-20 hours; get started on this step asap. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? Parts such as pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and other similar components become overheated and effectively weld together. you know the drill. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someones day. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. A motorcycle isnt very fun if you cant get it started. Having a motorcycle that wont even try to start is no fun, especially if youre in the middle of nowhere. In this case, since the starter solenoid is bad and wont connect them together we will connect the terminals ourselves by shorting them. If you have a kick starter engine, a good way to tell if the engine is seized is the fact that the kick pedal will not move at all because the components inside the engine are stuck in place. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Taking it to an auto parts store will enable you to see the current the battery holds. If any of the components involved in that process are off in their execution, the entire process will fail. Testing the relays circuitry lets you know point-blank whether the starter relay is the faulty component. Lets cut to the troubleshooting process and break down the symptoms of a bad starter relay and look at the specifics. Starter solenoid electrical connections. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. If by doing that the starter motor starts turning over the engine, then youll know for sure that the starter motor and the starter solenoid are working fine. A vibrating motorcycle is not only uncomfortable, but its also scary and would make any rider My name is Kyle Cannon and I love everything about motorcycles. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Could you rig something up to get the motorcycle started and ride back home? When the battery is dead and you turn the key, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking sound. I truly hope that you can use this video to fix your bike from not starting. Turn the key on and short across the terminals with the screwdriver. What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? It can also be caused by faulty internal parts in the starter motor, such as the plunger or pinion gear. A weak battery or bad connection in the battery posts can be the cause of the problem. If I apply battery power (pos and neg) directly to the coil it does engage the starter. Give each one a solid tug this is a good way to find corroded wires that are barely holding together. Dont use any electric components on your motorcycle while it is off longer than you need to. Check the battery ground wire to the block for corrosion. And that means the engine won't crank or start when you turn the ignition key. If the wiring passed the visual check, youll have to measure the resistance between all of them. 44. In this situation, deciding what to do can be difficult. To test the relay, get your test light out. This in turn will makes that clicking sound. If they do roll, your engine is fine. Related:12 Reasons Your Motorcycle Wont Start In Gear (Explained). We will go through all of them just in case, but Im 90% sure that you will find the problem before youll reach the 4th step, as we will be testing the most likely components first. Typically, this points to a . Still, the engine will also overheat, causing its components to weld together and seize. You dont want your clicking to result from a seized engine; under ordinary riding circumstances, a seized engine is extremely rare. Thatll make it go out sooner than normal. If you have a kick-starting engine, the kick pedal will not move because the components inside the machine are held in place is an excellent method to identify if the engine is seized. Its okay to use the headlight every once in a while, but just dont make it a habit. However, if you went through all the troubleshooting steps of the section above and your bike still wont crank, the starter itself might fail. pull the plug wire and check for spark.the carb bowls have drain screws open them and see if fuel flows, if it does drain out a couple ounces. Check the electrolyte level (on removable caps batteries). Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED: starter motor, starter relay switch, fuel cut-off relay . While holding the key, jump the solenoid contacts with a wrench. He loves restoring motorcycles, has a vast knowledge of how they work, and has sold his restoration projects to customers from all over the United States. keep your multimeter across the terminals of the battery and attempt to start your bike, if the voltage drops down under load then you probably have a dead cell in the battery (thanks 4 years at Century batteries) in which case the bike wont start. There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. Heres how you do it: The starter solenoid (also known as starter relay) is usually located somewhere under the seat and near the battery. The second reason could be due to a bad starter. , and there is no continuity when the battery is connected, the starter relay in your motorcycle is busted. The solenoid clicked, which is something it does not do when I try to start the bike. Stay on top of your oil changes and make sure to use the right kind of oil specific to your motorcycle. 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