Motorcycle Repair: solinoied /starter electic faults, 200cc motorcycles, clutch lever

Question
QUESTION: I own one of these chinese 200cc off road bikes i bought new battery new start push button switch.i cant start bike took out solinoied connected two wires directly to battery heard clicking and jumping /vibrate.when i touch the neutral battery lead directly on the live terminal of the solinoied the starter turns over.i have another black relay near the solinoied would this be a part of the problem.can you help please,cant find answers

ANSWER:  
Hi Trevor,

The starting circuit is basically simple but sometimes they use
some safety features that can cause problems.

The basic circuit uses a heavy wire from the battery
positive to the solenoid. Then another heavy wire
from the solenoid to the starter.

Next there is usually a smaller ground wire on the solenoid
along with another smaller wire which goes to the starter button.

It works like this, you will have battery voltage across the two
larger wire terminals when you apply power to one of the smaller
solenoid wires with the other smaller wire grounded.

The solenoid is just an electromagnetic switch which sends power
to the starter when it is activated.

The clicking noise means it is probably working, but the battery
must also have a full charge for it to work properly.

The power is sometimes cut between the starter button and the
solenoid by a small switch on the clutch lever.
This is one of the safety switches. Check that with a multimeter.

Also there can be a safety switch on the side stand, you can
also check that with a multimeter.

If you give me the make, model of your bike and
even the wire colors on the solenoid etc I may be able
to be more exact in finding the problem.

Let me know with a follow up if you need, thanks.

WS
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: XGJAO 200cc motorcycles direct where i bought it thanks for reply,on the left side cluctch lever there is a small switch which goes to a conector at the front under the main headlight2 wires green and green/red these connect to a connector going into the main bunch. cable running from the side of the solenoid has 2 cables green wire, and red /yellow joins onto a conncetor then runs into and under the petrol tank hard to find where it goes to.The solenoide no name or make red lead to battery black cable going to starter motor bolted on top of starter,I do have a multimetre but to test my these will need guidance.The battery when i test reads 12.64,and the 2 terminals on solinoied 12.4 but there are so many componets and fittings electrical its difficult.

Answer
They use one of two systems on motorcycles for starting:

The starter button should either provide power to the red/yellow solenoid wire or
it will ground the green solenoid wire when pushed.

Turn on the key,
The red/yellow should either have steady battery power or have power when you push the starter button.

Let me know what happens there.

The green should either be grounded steady or only grounding when you push the starter button
depending on the type of starting circuit it uses.

You can check this with the multimeter on the green wire and the positive battery wire.
If the green is grounded the meter will show it.

Let me know if the green is grounded all the time or only when pushing the starter button.

Hope this is not too complicated?

WS
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