Starter wouldn't stop

Hello again!

I've been riding faithfully as of late and as such haven't had much time to browse the forums.

I've hit a potential snag though. Earlier today my roommate turned off the bike because he heard a weird "whining" sound. I wish I was there but this is all second hand, from what he told me.

He tried to turn off the bike but the starter kept going, even with the key in the off position. It stopped, and hasn't done it since (100km on the bike since - today! :wink. I'd like to try and address the issue before I get stranded somewhere though.

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? There was a member a while back who posted a video of his bike, where his starter would engage until it killed the battery, but I couldn't find it. I am truly dreading dealing with the electrical on the bike.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Places to start?

Thanks everyone!

 

Just the usual: wiring, connections, especially as relate to the solenoid.

A "stuck" solenoid could cause that.

A quick tale of sorts: I wish I'd just dropped the $40 on a new solenoid BEFORE all of the untold hours spent chasing an intermittent starting problem; once I repaced the bloody thing all has been good.

(In my case it was "push the button and nothing happens" syndrome.)

 

Awesome I'll give it a shot. Thanks Fitz.

 

I'll trade your overactive starter solenoid for my intermittently inop solenoid! :lol:

 

Have a plan of what to do while you're shaking it down.

Don't let your Starter crank-away while you are "Shooting".
That would NOT be good for the Starter Clutch

While you are trouble-shooting, ... disconnect the Wire from the Solenoid to the Starter and substitute a Test Light to indicate the Contacts are still closed.

Then, shoot the RED Wire w/ WHITE Tracer back to the Starter Button.
See if the Button died.
That's common and you can get a Starter Button in the aftermarket.

Solenoid Contact Points can be filed if they arced closed, but for all the hassle unsolder-ing the thing and trying to file Points that are pitted, ...
buy yourself a new one and see how far you can hit the old one with a wooden bat.

It's not likely the Ignition Switch.
That baby just lets the juice go to the Parts that need checking.

Since you are working on the Circuit that STARTS the Bike ...
While you are checking the wiring you can add an Anti Theft Option.
When you Test the wire from the Start Button, ...
Add a loop and hide a switch.

 

The problem is obviously that one of you has been riding laps around town and country mostly clockwise while the other anticlockwise. Your bikes have developed charges based on that.
you just have to park your bike next to shnuffy's for a while so the magic smoke levels even out.

 

Great advice, thanks everyone