Solenoid or earths or wiring? No starter and deadens battery!

Hi XJ

Anybody had this problem before:

Battery fully charged, new solenoid fitted (thinking that was the cause). Press starter, buzz, or click only in solenoid area, continue pressing starter and ignition light slowly goes out, and nothing then will work, starter, horn lights et al....no ignition light.
Cleaned electrodes, and earths, rewired solenoid different way, starts and will start all day.....park up for night.....go to start next day, SAME THING!
Check fuses....all ok, take wiring off solenoid, put it back on, (also recharge battery a little - still over 12.5v)...bike will start again?!

Any ideas please, I'm baffled by this?!

Kind regards.

 

check (the brushes of) your startermotor.

 

Does it still have the original fusebox?

Your Fuse Box -- A Ticking Bomb??? By: Rick Massey

HOW TO: Install an aftermarket fuse box

 

Thank you both for your input. I appreciate it.

I don't think(?) the brushes on the starter motor would be at fault, cos it starts first time when the ignition light power is there fully, and it turns over, doesn't click or buzz, or just doesn't do anything at all. (the starter motor does 'skid' a little sometimes when I'm attempting to start, and turn the motor over but it's done that from when I bought the machine 10 years ago.)

I am thinking that there is a dodgy connection, but what is it - mains lead earthing (with it flattening the battery gradually as I press the starter button) - fuse (yet to look at that again when it reoccurs), or a weakness on some wire connecting the battery to solenoid, to starter motor? The ignition light goes out completely though sometimes, after only a couple of presses on the button which I once identified as the ignition or 'main' fuse at fault. To underline the point of the 'main' /ignition fuse or wiring involved in it, being the culprit, when the ignition light goes out completely - NO IGNITION OR LIGHTING OR HORN.
I have not tried yet, when I have no ignition light whatsoever to tap, or 'waggle' the fuses and the wires connecting so when it happens again (which I'm pretty sure it will) I might be able to identify and pinpoint the area involved.

I cleaned the solenoid to starter motor positive connection point, even though it looked pristine clean, and sprayed with electrical cleaner, the battery earth to machine connection after cleaning that also.

It started first time today, and after a few hours of it cooling down I've just been down to start again and it started first time again.
With regards to the fusebox replacement, I bought a bladed one (pictured), but I think it might sit too high (without having to elongate the wiring to replace position of it) on top of the frame under the seat, for the spare tools sachet, and seat to close down on top, so I never got round to installing it. I may yet have to, if that is what is causing this issue?

Kind regards
Dale Grantham

 

Change the original yamaha fusebox for the bladed one to eliminate the possibility it is the culprit. I have the 900f and the fuse box sits in the tray under the seat. Check the switch on the handlebar bolts are tight enough so the switch body grounds onto the bars, (if that is applicable to your machine).

 

I had an identical problem. With the motorcycle off, put the motorcycle in 1 gear and then push the motorcycle a little and release the clutch. This should release the starter. Then try to get the bike to work again.

 

1. When the motor brushes are at or beyond their wear limit they will make intermittant contact with the commutator. Disassembly, cleaning and inspection is HIGHLY reccomended

2. The ATC fusebos that you have will work fine. I've had the same type installed for almost 8 years. The seat pan does touch the fusebox cover when I'm on the bike, but it has not caused any trouble at all.

There is something wrong with your machine. That is not an acceptable situation. Please start a thread for your bike if you have not done so already.