starter button has no effect, 82xj650j

Battery is good/new (~1yr @ 12.9v), scorpion AGM. Fuse box is new/bladed, and none are blown.

The bike was parked for 5 days and wouldnt turn over start this morning. starter would turn.. it popped a few times but seemed flooded, etc. then after about 5-8 mins of cranking attempts the starter button just quit working. The button has no effect whatsoever, no click no nothing. Turned it off, & went to work, came home & no change.

The main switch is on, w/ brightly lit neutral indicator and tail lights. the kill switch seems to work, as toggling it i hear a click coming from somewhere in the harness, which seems normal.

Im going to tear apart the button and try to bypass it w a hot wire & trace back w a multi-meter, etc.

Ill do the requisite search for similar issues but let me know if anyone has any quick ideas before i go too far down the wrong road.

Thanks!

 

Update...

Used a screwdriver to jump the two bolts on the starter solenoid and the bike fired right up. it probably was flooded this morning but the attempts to start led to failure of either the switch, or the the solenoid.

A buddy tells me i should be able to replace the solenoid with a ford option from oriley.. dunno if its that easy.... any other ideas or adivce?

 

Rebuild/clean and inspect the switch and get the proper solenoid. The ford solenoid might work but I wouldn't chance it for the long haul.

Gary H.

 

Update 2...

disconnected the battery, and the solenoid wire harness plug. Used a small 12v battery to jump the red and blue wires in the solenoid plug and get a loud click from the solenoid. Back to looking at the switch & harness

 

Still sounds like a solenoid problem...but for giggles clean the connections , sometimes a little corrosion is all that can cause it to be intermittent. Disconnect wires ( disconnect battery as well) use a wire brush on posts, get some contact cleaner spray the connectors. Put a little dielectric compound put it back together . I know a little involved,this is what we do on the aircraft anyway.

 

He also needs to make certain the button contacts are clean and the wiring is soldered tight.

Gary H.

 

Agreed, it sounds very much like a problem with the starter button (funny how old bikes get corrosion from sitting), and not a problem with the solenoid.


Um.... a Ford starter relay isn't necessary, nor will it fit in the available space. Ford realys are a good upgrade when added to a Chevy relay...on a Chevy; not on a motorcycle.

 

welp.. looks like it was the starter button. Looks like the plastic flange broke away, and was wedged between the contact points, preventing me from starting the engine.

I'm going to try and use a wooden or fiberglass dowel with a washer and brass screw as a replacement. I'll post back if I have any luck, or if i need to scrounge a spare button from someone here


As always thanks for the thoughtful and useful replies!

 

Chacal should have starter buttons in stock. New is bestest. Start a conversation with him.

 

Purchase new form Chacal and be done with it.

@k-moe: jinx!

Gary H.

 

chacal sells the button and spring or the complete button assembly

 

Hooray! With zero dollars spent & zero days waiting, my starter switch works again.. Used a 1/2" section of orange fiberglass road-side reflector dowel (from home depot), which was almost exactly the right diameter. Just sanded it a bit, drilled it out and sank a screw + washer in the one end. Working great as a temporary break-fix starter switch. Will definitely need to order a new button for the long run.

Gotta say, this button assembly is pretty hokey.. weak steel that is easily deformed is my main beef. mine was misshapen from years of smooshing & pushing, which probably led to the cracked and broken button flange. I straightened everything back out w a needlenose, but still thinking a proper sealed/self contained momentary push button might be the more reliable option... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

As always, & again, Thanks guys!

 

the button works with a light touch , it does not start quicker by pushing harder on it....
held out for 34 years

 

haha looks exactly the same asembly as the horn button i just did on mine except i had to sus it out cause there was no button in there in the 1st place ddnt like bendind those tabs but no other way

 

hmmm.. never thought of it but maybe the horn button and the starter buttons are interchangeable?.. Maybe with breakage similar to what I experienced, a quick roadside fix could be to swap in the button in from the horn switch?

Still need to msg Chacal about proper replacements....

 

yeah definately there sold as horn/starter buttons when i got mine but even the casing is the same so suspect the rest is too ..lol i wouldnt exactly call it a road side fix though age old screws i ended having to edge them lose with a hammer and sharp flat head screw driver

 

Roadside fix...just take a quarter out of your pocket and jump the solenoid posts.

 

the button and spring are the same