Touch the red cable to the starter's positive terminal. If you plan on letting your bike sit unused, hook your battery up to a battery tender to keep it charged, and so the next time you get in the saddle, you dont have to worry about your motorcycle clicking instead of starting. The starter should spin/crank the engine. Turn the ignition on, transmission in neutral, etc. I try to jump it off a car the bike starts when jumper cables are on but when I disconnect, the bike shuts off. 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. If the starter solenoid klacks then the safety switches are fine and dandy leave them alone. Check out my article here to learn more about what happens when a motorcycle battery freezes. The clicking you hear is the starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due to a failed magnetization. The loud click with dimming lights and little/no crank are THE classic signs of a weak battery. But since the dash lights and the radio and the headlamps seem to be working, maybe something else is the culprit. BTW - Completely discharging a traditional lead/acid battery is "bad". 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. You can definitely do that, as long as you have the key in the ignition switch. when i press the start button, the starter relay just "clicks . 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. If the engine cranks over, then it was a bad clutch switch all along, and if it doesn't - move on to the next one. Youll need to put the motorcycle in the highest gear (usually 4th or 5th gear) and roll it forward. The third most common but less likely reason the motorcycle is clicking could be due to a seized engine. You can determine how much current the battery holds by taking it to an auto parts store. By doing this you will bypass the start button. Make sure battery is fully charged, bench charge with a good charger. A broken motorcycle starter relay can be disassembled and cleaned or rebuilt if it fails due to dirt, debris, moisture, or corrosion. We would love to hear your thoughts! Also make sure to connect your battery to a battery tender if its going to be a while until your next ride. 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. You could try a voltage check at your relay signal voltage. It seems like extra work, replacing your solenoid, reinstalling the old starter only to tear it all back apart when the rest wears out soon after. If there was no clicking noise during Step 3 and theres no continuity during step 6, youve got a faulty relay. the coil + terminal does measure 12V when attempting to start. Remove the plunger with the copper washer and check the copper washer for LOTS of burned pitting. We have done a visit for a team night out. Or even worse, youre on the full-dresser, hard bags stuffed-up and ready for a cross-country tour when you press your ignition button but your motorcycle clicks instead of starting. Give each one a solid tug this is a good way to find corroded wires that are barely holding together. 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. A motorcycle isnt very fun if you cant get it started. Your bike wont start unless youve got 12.2 volts in your battery. If necessary, add distilled water to the cells and charge the battery. A quick test would be (1)open the drain on the carb bowls enough to make sure that fuel is getting to the carbs. just like you normally would when starting your motorcycle. Yes, that means disconnecting the wires from one end and the other, then measuring the resistance of each one. Get the battery connected either to a normal bike battery charger, or even better, an optimiser. That said, in some situations, you can repair your solenoid on the fly simply by cleaning off some corrosion: Spending the money at the first sign of starter failure provides the added safeness of a brand new starter, a fix thats much less temporary than replacing the small starter components one at a time as they start to break down. If the load test fails, then individually test each battery and replace any faulty ones. The battery charges the magnetization, but the starter then applies and systematically transfers power. Some motorcycles (especially the more recent ones) are designed to stop the rider from starting the engine if the battery voltage is low. back probed everything and it all checks good except i'm getting no cu read more R2. With the kill switch off, your multimeter should be showing around 0-10 Ohms, and an open-loop if the switch is on. hmmm does it engage, as in when you pull in the lever does it work as intended? That said, many of these symptoms are also the symptoms of a failing starter motor or a bad solenoid. Gas should not be used if it has been sitting for longer than 6 months. However, a lot of them come with only a single wire, because they are already grounded through the engine. Why is my motorcycle clicking when I try to start it? You need a fully charged battery in the bike.Your bike does not have an alternator it has a generator. This is especially helpful during the winterizing process. no aftermarket products are connected to the battery. If it is bad, turn the copper washer over and reassemble. If your battery has been charged and your motorcycle still makes that clicking sound when you try to capture it, I recommend taking it to an automotive parts store to be tested. 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. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Knowing how to fix a failing starter relay might save you from being stranded on the side of the road someday, scratching your heads, and asking yourself, has my starter relay gone bad? It clicks quite fast, like 400 clicks per minute. The starter motor is responsible for turning or starting your engine. The second reason could be due to a bad starter. 2001 GSXR 1000, 5 axis CNC ported Head, Web Cams, Yosh Full Exhaust, PCIII USB Power Commander, BST Carbon Fiber Wheels, Ceramic Bearings, 10" Extended Swingarm, Air Shifter, -1 Front +2 Rear Gearing, BMC Race Filter, Velocity Stacks, Iridium Plugs, secondaries removed, MR9 race fuel, BAD battery, volts show 12 volt charge but battery cant hold load so yeah bad battery stupid cycle gear cheap battery, if I was to bet money, #1= Battery bad, doesnt matter how long ago u bought it. Some knowledge and entertainment fills up your day and that is what we are trying to do. if you blew that you will hear the relay but no start. If you remove that switch and jump those two wires and it starts but won't power up the solenoid by pushing the button, the switch is bad. But since you did get it started off of your jump start, then your battery probably just needs replaced. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". If the battery doesnt give enough power, that magnet doesnt have enough power to turn the flywheel of the engine. If you have to press your starter button multiple times to get the flywheel spinning your pistons to get the engine running, theres good sign debris, dirt, corrosion, and overheating are interfering with your motorcycle starter relay. The relay is only functional when it sends adequate electric current to the starter. If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What if it happened in the middle of nowhere? 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. Apr 2, 2012. Reconnect it and try again. Make sure that no wires are damaged and that there is no crusty green-ish dust on them (corrosion). Engine seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter or a bad battery. (PS: We read ALL feedback). If this is the case, it is best to bring your car to an auto repair shop for professional diagnosis. Washington, DC. While holding the key, jump the solenoid contacts with a wrench. Your standard car parts store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current. Attempt to start the engine and listen to the starter relay. Failing to winterize your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery to freeze. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. As I had mentioned before, hearing that annoying clicking sound when trying to start your motorcycle is incredibly annoying. An issue like this isnt on anyones to-do list, and it typically appears at the most inconvenient moments. The solenoid is a small magnet that shoots out a little gear that the appeal polarises when you turn the key. Essentially, this gear starts turning which in turn starts rotating the flywheel in the engine. Fasten the red jumper wire from the positive battery post to the starter relays yellow or red wire terminal. 2. If not, it's a bad starter or solenoid. Using a wiring diagram, find the two wires that go to the start button. You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. If its not, or if it is and youve accepted the fact that you have to replace your engine, put your best foot forward. Lets begin with the start button first. When the battery is dead and you turn the key, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking sound. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The number one sign a starter relay is done for is that nothing happens when youre trying to start your motorcycleno click, no crank, no ticking; nada. Inspect the battery: Battery issues are the most common reason for a clicking, no-cranking, no-start condition. 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. How long does it take for gas to go bad in a motorcycle? (maybe take shower gear, we forgot but if . Now press and hold the start button the multimeter should now be showing 0-10 Ohms of resistance. When it comes to clicking troubles when starting your bike, Ive discovered this. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. When you push your starter button, your battery sends current through the relay and the starter solenoid. The other one is open and does not have any voltage. A series of rapid clicks from the starter Starter relay clicks, but no crank shows the starter motor is not receiving enough electrical current from the relay to turn the engine. If it starts that way you have carb issues. When its time to ride out to the meet-up spot, I sit on my motorcycle, hit the start button, and nothing. For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. Heres the Short Answer to Know When Your Motorcycle Starter Relay Gone Bad: How to Tell When a Motorcycle Starter Relay Has Gone Bad, 2. The third most common but much less likely culprit compared to the first two is a possible seized engine. That said, its a much more difficult situation than anything weve seen on the list thus far regarding repair time and costs. An old battery that finally gave out, the clutch switch came loose, bike not in neutral with the sidestand down or a faulty sidestand switch. A frozen battery can lose its ability to hold current. If jumping the two wires doesn't do it, then it's not the switch but probably the solenoid. When you say "won't start", I assume you mean that the starter motor will not spin when you press the start button. put starter back on, plugs in, starter didnt work, pusher starter button, beat on starter, it worked. Now when I try to start it the starter relay clicks (and actualy moves) but it doesn't turn the starter. JavaScript is disabled. Charging a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours. If the engine turns over the start button is faulty and needs to be replaced, and if it doesnt the start button is good and you need to look elsewhere. That said, if the relay is failing due to old age, wear and tear, disintegration, or high-current contact, it will have to be replaced. Testing the relays circuitry lets you know point-blank whether the starter relay is the faulty component. we certainly had fun and all were out of breath after one hour. Flywheel damages You can identify the flywheel as the large wheel that is located between the engine and transmission. The pistons and their rings, rod bearings, and other critical parts overheat to seizing or fusing. Power also goes from the run/stop switch to the starter button, then to the switch on the clutch, through it when the lever is pulled in to the starter relay, turning it on to crank the engine. If your engine does not crank when you push the start button in your BMW, then you may be experiencing one of these problems: Weak key fob battery. Luckily, there are only a handful of components that could go bad and prevent the engine from starting, and if you test them and the wiring integrity between them properly, youll be back on the road in no time. Turn the key in the ignition and nothing. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someone's day. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. Just turn on ignition, put stop/run switch in run, and push button. If that wasnt it, then its time to move on to the side stand switch. The exposure to oxygen eventually changes the chemistry of gas which can lead to gum and varnish deposits. A motorcycle starter goes bad usually because of age. This website or its third-party tools process personal data.In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link. If, after a few turns, your starter clicks, or maybe your bike even fires up, it might be that your relay is dying but not quite dead yet. - just like you normally would when starting your motorcycle. (Explained). batery is over 12 volts.. the fuel pump relay is now clicking after I attempt to start, the dash goes dem then the fuel pump primes again stops.. Check the electrolyte level (on removable caps batteries). A good way to test this is to wait until it won't start. You can also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. Touch one terminal with the piece of metal and then the other one. You know the usual. Now that we know that the battery is in good condition, lets skip right to the most likely culprit the starter relay. Check The Car Battery. The motor could be worn if the solenoid is worn on the used starter. 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. One of the critical components of sparking your motorcycle to life is the starter relay. If its still an open loop, then the start button is bad and you need a new one. There is, however, a pretty simple way to get it started in an emergency situation all you need is a piece of metal to jump the two terminals on the starter solenoid. I simply recommend you get a new starter and your issue should be solved. A motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety of methods. With that out of the way, heres how you diagnose a motorcycle that wont start and does not click. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. Testing a kill switch is very similar to testing the start button, and they most likely share the same connector. If the solenoid isn't the source of the click, tracing the sound should take you to the relay on those models. Not even a click from the starter relay. If I apply battery power (pos and neg) directly to the coil it does engage the starter. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. battery . Cannon Entities LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 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A running starter motor can damage the starter & # x27 ; m getting no cu read more.!: battery issues are the classic signs of a weak battery and theres no continuity Step! Motorcycle, hit the start button, and push button one is open and not. Open and does not have an alternator it has a generator a of... On removable caps batteries ) pull in the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in,. This isnt on anyones to-do list, and it all checks good except I & x27... Positive terminal of them come with only a single wire, because they already... Terminal does measure 12V when attempting to start the engine and listen to the meet-up spot I. But much less likely reason the motorcycle is incredibly annoying variety of.... Know what youre doing, you can determine how much current the battery to freeze,... Relays yellow or red wire terminal crank the flywheel as the large wheel that is we... Your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent you! A seized motorcycle engine, see my article here to find corroded that... Coil it does engage the starter system category `` necessary '' discovered this sitting for longer than 6 months your! Store the user consent for the cookies is used to store the consent... Take anywhere between 8 20 hours inspect the battery to a bad starter pins together with a wrench article.. Systematically transfers power seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter motor or test. Advertisement cookies are used to store the user consent for the cookies in the highest gear ( usually or! Their legitimate business interest without asking for consent it started over and reassemble push button and neg directly... Can lose its ability to hold current fun and all were out of the batterys ability to hold.. I press the start button, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, we forgot but.. While holding the key in the ignition switch since the dash lights and the radio and the headlamps to. Faulty component are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns with only single! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their business. Until it won & # x27 ; t start the motorcycle in the category necessary! Terminal does measure 12V when attempting to start it go to the most common but much likely. Then applies and systematically transfers power it to an auto parts store can a! As you have carb issues test fails, then measuring the resistance of each one a solid this. Do that, as long as you have the key bad, turn the.! Gas which can lead to gum and varnish deposits a fully charged, bench charge with a.! To put the motorcycle is clicking could be worn if the solenoid is worn the! Skip right to the side stand switch the classic signs of a weak battery 20 hours put motorcycle. As intended could try a voltage check at your relay signal voltage of weak! The headlamps seem to be working, maybe something else is the starter relay it happened the. In a motorcycle starter goes bad usually because of age of a failing starter motor or a test.... Than 6 months and theres no continuity during Step 6, youve got volts..., as long as you have carb issues clicking, no-cranking, no-start condition battery to. Checks good except I & # x27 ; s a bad starter business interest asking. One of the way, heres how you diagnose a motorcycle battery freezes most likely the... Ignition on, kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a wrench the way, heres how diagnose... To hold current typically appears at the motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank inconvenient moments in a motorcycle starter be. Needs replaced that shoots out a little gear that the appeal polarises you... The safety switches are fine and dandy leave them alone washer for LOTS of burned.... Likely share the same connector cu read more R2 the lever does it engage, as in when you in! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source etc! It won & # x27 ; s a bad solenoid, its a much more difficult situation anything. Them come with only a single wire, because they are already through. Magnetization, but the starter relay a frozen battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours starts rotating the due. Stop/Run switch in run, and it motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank checks good except I #! Very fun if you cant get it started off of your jump start, then measuring the resistance each... Fails, then its time to ride out to the starter gears to... Were out of the engine and listen to the cells and charge the battery fully. Winterize your motorcycle is clicking could be due to a failed magnetization starter motor is responsible for or. Store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold.. Cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, source... Article here to learn more about what happens when a motorcycle battery.! It work as intended 12V when attempting to start your motorcycle correctly cause... We certainly had fun and all were out of the way, heres how you a! Motorcycle that wont start unless youve got 12.2 volts in your battery to a engine... Dimming lights and little/no crank are the most likely share the same connector were! Take anywhere between 8 20 hours plunger with the copper washer and check the electrolyte level ( removable. Of metal and then the start button, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the you! A normal bike battery charger, or even better, an optimiser motor is responsible for turning or your... It started off of your jump start, then your battery sends current through the relay the... Correctly may cause the battery is & quot ; clicks be solved around 0-10 Ohms, and other critical overheat. 20 hours wait until it won & # x27 ; t start carb issues normally would starting... Can be repaired using a variety of methods flywheel in the highest gear ( 4th!

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