kateroc20

I have an '86 250 that doesnt want to start. The battery is fairly new, only about 4 months old. when the problem first started the bike would start up and run fine then when i would stop it would need to sit for about an hour before it would start again. i tried charging the battery and nothing changed. its gotten to the point where it has to sit for a few days before it will start. a neighbor suggested it could be the alternator, starter, or the battery wires. how would i check these things or is there is there anything else it could be. also i took the battery to the auto shop and they said there is nothing wrong with it.

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Twister

What do you mean by "won't start"?
a) Does the starter turns good, but engine won't start?
b) starter turns, but very weak?
c) starter doesn't turn but you can hear a "click" every time you push the start? Does the click come from the starter and the solenoid or
d) just the solenoid? (Triangle shaped box behind the battery)
e) Doesn't even "click" at all?


The obviuos: Is the bike in neutral, pulling clutch, kill switch on run, etc?

If it turns but not starts, have you tried taking off the gas cap for a second before trying again?

I'm no expert, but people with real knowledge will show up in a bit...

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Every ride is a joyride on a Rebel

1986 CMX250C "Miss Triplehorn" 17K miles
1984 GL1200A 106K miles

kateroc20

sometimes it will click when i push start other times it wont click at all.

ive doubled checked all the obvious things, neutral, kill switch, etc.

havent tried taking the gas cap off will try that...what does that do

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GearJammer

Removing the gas cap is a check for a vapor lock/venting issue.....Your battery is probably good tho' you might double check the terminals for tightness and/or corrosion. Same/same with the starter relay (the solenoid behind the battery).....checking for corrosion and tight connections on the terminals.

If you're not comfortable with trying this, you don't have to.....but with the bike in neutral, gas on, key on, kill switch off.....if you jump the starter relay terminals by touching them both at the same time with a screw driver with an insulated handle and being VERY careful not to touch any other metal, the bike should fire-up. Like I said, you don't have to try this if you're not comfortable with it, it's really just a trouble-shooting technique.

Your's being an '86, it's quite possible that the contacts inside the right-hand side controls on the handlebars have a build-up of dust, grime, etc. This would include the contacts for your starter button inside there. You can buy a spray can of Electrical Contact Cleaner at Radio Shack. There's 2 different types, one has a lubricant, one does not. You want the one WITHOUT the lubricant, which will clean and then will air dry without leaving any residue. Open the right-hand controls, carefully separate them and you'll see the contacts and the slide that the starter button engages and that slide has a number of different contacts on it. Spray some Electrical Contact Cleaner in there being very careful to not get any on any paint, etc. Push the slide in a few times, spray a little bit more, then let it air dry, wiping off any excess. Put the control housing back on and give her a try.......This may or may not do the trick, but I'd give it a shot. If the contacts are dirty, then the starter button may not trigger the starter relay for fire-up every time.......

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"Ridin' Ain't A Hobby, It's A Lifestyle"

1986 450 Rebel

JunkyardDog

It could be any one of a number of things, the battery, the connection between the battery and the starter switch, (not the fuse, or it wouldn't click, do the lights come on ok? Does the horn work?) the switch itself, the wiring between the switch and the relay, the relay, the wiring between the relay and the starter, or the starter itself. Since it sometimes clicks, if the lights and horn work, I would be inclined to think it is the relay (thats the part that clicks), the cable to the starter, or the starter. If the horn and lights do not work, or barely work, it is the battery, or the connections at the battery.

To check the starter itself, find the big cable that goes from the relay to the starter, and follow it back to the relay. With the bike in neutral, remove this cable from the relay, and touch it directly to the positive (+) terminal of the battery. This bypasses everything. If the starter now works, it is most likely the relay. Before replacing the relay, make sure you are getting 12V TO the other side of the relay. If the relay clicks, you ARE getting some power to it, but maybe not enough. It is very possible to be getting plenty of power to the relay (the relay is nothing but an electrically controlled switch), and still have the relay only click, because the relay itself is bad. Try to track it down before buying parts, because most electrical parts are not returnable. Jerry.

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