Motorcycle Repair: Starter on 1995 Honda Shadow A.C.E. 1100, starter, solenoid

Question
Sidecar,
I noticed when I try the electric start on my bike it sometimes wont do anything and I have to sit their and just keep pushing button until it seam to get to the right spot. The problem seams to be getting worse any ideas?

Answer
Start by making sure you don't have a dirty connection. The cable from the negative terminal of the battery should be attached to an engine mount or a bolt on the engine. Loosen the mount and wiggle the cable a bit to break any oxidization that may have formed between the cable & the engine &/or frame, then tighten it again. Remove the negative cable from the battery so you don't accidentally short the battery with a wrench and then loosen, jiggle and re-tighten the connections at the battery positive, the solenoid (at the other end of the heavy cable that connects to the positive terminal of the battery) and the starter motor (at the other end of the other heavy cable that connects to the solenoid). Re-connect the negative cable.

Try to start it. If it works your problem was just a dirty connection.

If it still doesn't start you need to check for power in the circuit:

There are 2 big terminals on the top of the solenoid. If you check with a voltmeter or test light there should always be power at the terminal the battery is connected to.

The other terminal should only have power when the start button is pressed. If the solenoid clicks but there is no power at that terminal when the button is pressed you need to replace the solenoid.

If there is power on that terminal when the button is pressed, check for power at the starter motor's terminal. If there is power there and the starter motor doesn't turn you probably need to replace the starter motor or have it rebuilt. Some places that rebuild car starters can do bike ones too at a fraction of the price of a new one.