QuestionI am kind of at a dead end on what is going on. I was at work when I attempted to start my bike with the electric starter. Nothing happen except for my lights went off and acted like the battery was completley dead. So I diconnected the battery terminals and checked the battery which read fully charged. So I connected the cables back and checked the battery charge again with the key "off." Which showed fully charged. The I turned the key "on" and checked one last time, which showed the battery to have no charge. I then placed a battery charger on the battery with the key on and showed that it was getting charged, but not enough to turn the motor over. Do I have a short in the electrical starter switch?
AnswerDutch.... A number of possibilities come to mind.
1. Battery is only holding a surface charge.. volts, but no amps. Charge battery then have a load test done on it to see if it is really holding a charge or not. Batteries only last about 2 years, in the best of conditions, so if yours is older or the bike sits for long periods of time, then replace it with something fresh.
2. Check all the fuses next to the starter solenoid. Fuses sometimes look good but can have hairline fractures in them from age.
3. The starter switches on these old birds often go dead internally. Common symptoms are: no head lights/running lights, but the starter will engage OR Headlights/running lights working, but no starter engagement. Take the starter switch off the handlebars and check to see if the parts have all dissolved inside. Very common problem, showing up as an open internal circuit, not a short circuit (which would blow a fuse or two).
4. The ignition switches, mounted on the fork bridge have a tendency to wear out the switch base contact. Replacement switch bases should be available, but it takes a bit of work to get the switch off and accessible to repair. Wiggle the handlebars back and forth with the key ON to see if there is intermittent contact with the harness/switch base connection.
5. Check ALL ground connections! While you are at it, check all the other electrical connectors for clean contacts and continuity.
6. Check this site for a wiring diagram: http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/WiringDiagrams/MCwiring.php#class
7. You can jumper across the two large terminals of the starter solenoid with a screwdriver, for an instant to see if that activates the starter motor. If so, then either the solenoid contacts are corroded internally or the solenoid is not being activated by the starter switch.
Other helpful links: www.sohc4.us
Bill Silver
