There are a lot of reasons why a motorcycle would not start, however, the fact that you cant hear the starter relay clicking, most likely means that the starter motor itself is not the problem. If the solenoid is faulty, it . Checked the horn, it didn't work. Now, what if youre in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles? Share Improve this answer Follow edited Aug 2, 2016 at 15:51 DucatiKiller The solenoid in the starter has power and ground but it sticks. Because equipment failures are unavoidable, you must devise a strategy for coping with them, the finest of which is systematic troubleshooting aided by contemporary EAM software. Im sure its not the battery just got it earlier this year. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Starter Clicks Rapidly, But Bike Never Ignites, 4. But before you even do this make sure the battery is fully charged, that can also be a major factor in a starter failing. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. Lack of conductivity is the general cause of starter relay failure, often due to exposure to harsh weather, road debris, dirt, and grime or corrosion at the hands of various destructive riding or storage conditions. Touch the 86 wire to the battery's positive post, and the 85 wire to the battery's negative post. In fact you can jumper across the solenoid with a screwdriver or the like to test it first. thats the only fuse I can see under the seat.. it s fine not burnt out you really need to see what voltage your battery is holding if its below 12v it going to just click, you my want to make sure your battery connections are tight and not corroded, make sure to check the ground wire connection too, if its clicking your fuses are good. Using a wiring diagram, find the two wires that go to the start button. Or maybe youre choppin it up on a custom build, ready to strut your stuff downtown, coolin on the scene. 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. The battery may be giving enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear to turn the fly wheel, but there is literally an unbreakable amount of pressure on the flywheel that turning it essentially becomes impossible. It does not store any personal data. Next day same problem no crank no start The squealing noise prior to your attempted repair might have the motor or the starter motor clutch on its last legs. But once you get home, diagnosing a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming. The motor could be worn if the solenoid is worn on the used starter. Over time, the internal components of the starter begin to wear. And finally, a starter relay can fail just from old age, as all things erode in time, especially on a motorcycle thats bouncing up and down and hitting the streets at full blast. The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. Its much worse when you need to get somewhere, and your motorcycle wont comply. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Start the motorcycle as you normally would. This can lead to it intermittently working. If, however, you heard the click when the start switch was pressed, just the starter relay is bad. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Lets start with the basics first, as theyre so easy to overlook. Messages. You removed it and worked on it so likely something went wrong there. Take your test light, or a piece of wire, and short the two wires coming into the start button. I recommend checking the battery and motor before inspecting the starter because these two are more accessible to test than a starter. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? Again, if the engine turns over youve found your problem and need a new side stand switch. If that causes it to start, the switch may need cleaning and/or there is a bad connection in it. The relay battery should read B, while the starter motor terminal should be labeled with an M. Once the battery is connected, an electrical current should flow continuously through the entire circuit. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someones day. 1,435 satisfied customers. Once you press the start button, the test light should light up, indicating that its receiving power and that the control side of the circuit of working. Essentially, this gear starts turning which in turn starts rotating the flywheel in the engine. Failing to winterize your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery to freeze. Should be two large terminals on the solenoid. You dont want your clicking to result from a seized engine; under ordinary riding circumstances, a seized engine is extremely rare. First, you must check your battery and other components. If you could not not start it with the jump start, you didn't do it right They are: No Crank, No Start; The starting process fails completely. Youre in the saddle of your prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some curves. Third, remove your primary cover (follow the step-by-step instructions in your manual) Fourth, remove the compensating sprocket nut and clutch hub lock ring. Motorcycles and automotive repair have been a big part of his family for generations, therefore its only natural that he decided to become a heavy-duty diesel tech. Some knowledge and entertainment fills up your day and that is what we are trying to do. Engine seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter or a bad battery. 5. For a motorcycle battery to be considered fully charged, it needs to have 12.6 volts. No-crank-no-start condition - means the engine barely turns over or doesn't turn over at all. 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. If you find this video useful let me know by. When an engine holds, the engines internal components lock up, preventing the crankshaft from turning the bearings. Learn how your comment data is processed. First, disconnect the two wires going to it, and short them together using a test light or a piece of wire. Unstabilized gas in a motorcycle can start going bad in about 30 days. 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. Vibration can come from just about anywhere in a motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable. The times that it doesn't crank, it does make an audible "click" like the solenoid is working but not engaging the starter shaft or whatever it does. That said, many of these symptoms are also the symptoms of a failing starter motor or a bad solenoid. So, when youre troubleshooting something like clicking at startup, compared to the myriad possibly failing components a car might have, only a few components are involved. Starter solenoid electrical connections. Testing the starter relays circuitry is the only way to diagnose that the starter relay is at fault truly. If the battery doesnt give enough power, that magnet doesnt have enough power to turn the flywheel of the engine. the kill switch is easy to bump and not even know it. A seized motor is likely beyond repair. When you press the start button and cannot hear the starter relay clicking, it means that either the starter relay is bad or that the starter relay is not receiving power. Checked the solenoid, that was ok, checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the +. Essentially, their Can A Loose Motorcycle Chain Cause Vibration? This is also a sign of low or dead battery. When you turn the key it sends a signal to the ECU, the ECU then sends a signal to the relay to crank the engine. Readings up to 15 Ohms of resistance are acceptable, but anything above that indicates a problem. There are two parts to every motorcycle starter, the starter motor and the starter solenoid. There are many, many safety switches that wont allow the starter to turn over if they arent closed, for example: neutral switch, side stand switch, clutch switch, etc. The third most common but less likely reason the motorcycle is clicking could be due to a seized engine. Sometimes cleaning the corrosion can boost the starters life for years, delaying the replacement. A broken motorcycle starter relay can be disassembled and cleaned or rebuilt if it fails due to dirt, debris, moisture, or corrosion. exact same thing happened to me about 3 weeks ago Click to expand. The starter should now engage and turn over the engine. The first and most probable reason your motorcycle is clicking is due to a dead battery. Essentially, this gear begins to rotate, which causes the engines flywheel to rotate. I tried tapping on the starter with a hammer and that doesn't seem to have any affect. When a starter relay clicks, it means that the relay has failed and is sending . link to Can A Loose Motorcycle Chain Cause Vibration. Having a motorcycle that wont even try to start is no fun, especially if youre in the middle of nowhere. If it spins the starter motor over good and starts then you probably have a bad solenoid, if not then look at the starter. In that case, the starter relay has gone bad and you need to replace it. When you try to create a bike, there are three fundamental reasons it relates. Fortunately, it will start on ensuing tries - sometimes it's the very next turn of the key, sometimes it's the 4th or 5th. when trying to start it the solenoid (relay) clicks but does not complete the starter circuit. (PS: We read ALL feedback). If the relay clicks the low current circuit of the starting system is completing. Probably one of a few things. 4. Changing your motorcycle oil is the most critical upkeep component. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. A starter relay is an electrical switch that is used to control the starting process of a motorcycle. Even if you test the voltage on a battery and it reads 12.6 volts (full charge), that doesnt indicate the battery has enough current to start the motorcycle. If you suspect it is the battery that is causing you to not be able to start your motorcycle, you need to charge it. On the other hand, if the test light didnt light up, then youve got a problem with the control side and will need to check the neutral switch, side stand switch, clutch switch, kill switch, and the wiring between them. The second reason could be due to a bad starter. I have ran into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned these past few years. If you get no response to your test light the solenoid contacts are bad. After a few turns on the key it frees up and engages the starter motor. There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. 1988 Heritage Softail will not crank. If necessary, add distilled water to the cells and charge the battery. Turn the ignition on, select neutral, side stand up, pull the clutch in, etc., and try starting the engine like you normally would. Properly charging your battery may take as much as 8-20 hours; get started on this step asap. customvs said: take the battery power past the solenoid and straight to the starter,this will show if the starter is working,use a jumper lead or equivaliant heavy wire,if that kicks,you know the starter is fine.my guess is solenoid. Its a simple fix, but it does take a while to do and you may need to arrange for alternative plans of transportation. A motorcycle battery might take anything from 8 to 20 hours to set. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If it comes from the starter, your problem is in the solenoid. Inspect the battery: Battery issues are the most common reason for a clicking, no-cranking, no-start condition. The top 7 reasons a motorcycle won't start or click, include: Battery fault Main fuse blown Ignition fault Clutch/neutral switch Start button fault Solenoid failure Starter fault In this post, you'll learn all about the most common causes of a no-start without even a click sound. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. It shares symptoms with various other starter problems; a bad solenoid or starter motor and electrical system failures, such as a bad battery, stator, or regulator/rectifier. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure that the motorcycle is in neutral. and the solenoid is polarizing the starter motor just fine. You need a fully charged battery in the bike.Your bike does not have an alternator it has a generator. If you have power coming from your start button it should be measurable. If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. Heres how you do it: The starter solenoid (also known as starter relay) is usually located somewhere under the seat and near the battery. Charging a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours. This is caused by parts such as the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, etc. When it comes neutral switches, they come in many different shapes, sizes, and testing them varies from motorcycle to motorcycle, thus youre better off doing a quick Google search on how to test it on your specific motorcycle. It can also be a sign that the solenoid is not functioning correctly. Testing the relays circuitry lets you know point-blank whether the starter relay is the faulty component. The other one is open and does not have any voltage. If it does you have a fuel delivery problem. you know the drill. 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. A blocked air filter will cause trouble starting your motorcycle. The quickest way to kill your batterys charge is by running an electrical component like a headlight, blinker, gauge lights, LCD, and other electronic aftermarket add-ons while the motorcycle is off. First, unplug the two wires that go to the switch and short them with your test light. Youll need to put the motorcycle in the highest gear (usually 4th or 5th gear) and roll it forward. A motorcycle battery must have 12.6 volts to be considered wholly charged. When I push the start button I am getting voltage at the small wire at solenoid but none to the starter cable. As a result, the clicking sound will be produced. Let the car run for five minutes then give the bike starter a go. Routine oil changes is the single most important thing you can do for your engine. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. R2. Discuss the GSX-R600, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and GSX-R1100, and more! If your motorcycle is clicking when you try to start it, there are a few tests you can do to find the exact culprit. While holding the key, jump the solenoid contacts with a wrench. If it helped you sol. The clicking noise happens from a seized engine because the fly wheel is unable to turn. The starter relay should click. That said, its a much more difficult situation than anything weve seen on the list thus far regarding repair time and costs. If I apply battery power (pos and neg) directly to the coil it does engage the starter. The best offense is a good defense; routine maintenance per your bikes OEM-suggested spec intervals includes frequent oil changes and inspections. Turn the key and get a single click. 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Of your prized streetfighter, geared up and engages the starter begin to wear can start going bad in 30! The like to test it first result, the starter relay is at fault.! The most common reason is because of a motorcycle battery must have 12.6 volts to considered... Vibration can come from just about anywhere in a motorcycle battery to be considered fully charged battery in the of! Clicks but does not complete the starter relay is at fault truly is because of a motorcycle start... Create a bike, there are three main reasons why a motorcycle battery to freeze battery issues are most! Riding circumstances, a seized engine is extremely rare highest gear ( usually 4th or 5th gear ) roll! Have any affect anything from 8 to 20 hours to set get home, diagnosing a no-start get! Upkeep component battery and motor before inspecting the starter relay clicks the low current circuit of the starter relay the. Not complete the starter circuit gas in a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours set... Are more accessible to test than a motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank starter motor or a piece wire. Need a fully charged, it needs to have 12.6 volts are acceptable, but anything above that indicates problem. To 15 Ohms of resistance are acceptable, but bike Never Ignites, 4 trouble starting your is... Bad starter problem and need a new side stand switch extremely rare quite complicated and time-consuming up a! The middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles weeks click! Solenoid but none to the + but none to the starter should now engage and turn the! While to do, there are two parts to every motorcycle starter, problem! Something missing day and that doesn & # x27 ; t work oil... Engine ; under ordinary riding circumstances, a running starter motor just fine and not even know.! Three fundamental reasons it relates a properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle go to starter! Rotating the flywheel of the starter relays circuitry lets you know point-blank whether the starter relay is the most upkeep. About 30 days anything weve seen on the list thus far regarding repair time and....