Solenoid just clicks and starter doesn't engage.We removed engine to paint frame started worked then but when we reinstalled engine starter doesn't engage.Starter motor was checked and was good.There is a solenoid under gas tank that has cable going to the head would that have anything to do with not engaging started.Press started button and it just clicks?

Cable adjustment . ? . ? . ?



My friend, I am sending you a gob of information. Please read and understand before you start checking stuff. There is some redundency built into the comments.



Paint is generally an insulator. If you painted the frame and were luckey enough to get the engine back in without scratching the paint it could be part of the problem. Is your engine hard mounted to the frame or are there rubber motor mounts? Rubber motor mounts, definitely a insulator. You are certain any grounds connecting engine to frame are solid and working? One way to test this is to run a jumper cable from bare metal on the engine to the - post of the battery to provide a known good temporary ground.



Cable adjustment - I am confused by your comment. Are you saying you have a electrical cable that you don't know where it goes? Or are we talking about a mechanical control cable like for the clutch or the choke? You say there is a wire that goes from the solenoid to the head? Is this a ground or is it hot? Test this with a volt/ohm meter. Test it first for power. All your fuses are intact, correct? If they are, test this wire for voltage. Make sure you test with various switches first in the off position then in the on position. If you find no power on the wire, test it with the Ohm function. One lead on the wire, the other to ground. Do you get a 'short' reading? (Short means connected - no resistance).



Does everything else on the bike work? Lights, high beam, horn, radio, cd, satellite radio, computer outlet, WiFi, cell phone charger, cigarete lighter, sat dish, GPS, CB, back up alarm, burgler alarm, electric heated seat, windshield wiper, heated mirrors, passenger ejector function, heated handlebars? You may not have all these features :-) Point being, what, if anything, does not work that might be powered OR grounded by this wire.



Lets review the function of of the solenoid. I would expect the battery to be connected directly to the battery side of the solenoid and all power for the bike probably finds its way back to this lug or the lug on the battery. Everything, that is, except the starter. The starter is connected to the other side of the solenoid. The solenoid is a electric operated switch. Its function is connect the battery to the starter. Obviously, this can only be a momentary connection, otherwise, the starter would run all the time.



You turn the solenoid on when you press the start switch. What actually happens is you energize an electric magnet that pulls a contactor into position where the two heavy wires you actually see are connected (inside) allowing a large flow of electricity to flow to the starter.



The actual function of the starter solinoid is one side (small wire) has power on it - the other side goes to ground through the start switch. There is another way to power (ground always connected, power to the switch through the start button) but I think you get the picture. The run switch is also in that circuit. You did say the solenoid clicks, so there probably is no problem with the actual control/operation of this electrical switch. Still, even though it "operates" it might not be making internal contact. Test this with your test light. Place your test light on the "starter side" of the solenoid (and to ground) and press the switch. If it lights when you press the start switch, the solenoid is probably OK. No light, solenoid is suspect. You could also jump the solenoid with a heavy jumper cable to see if you can get power to the starter.



You have a click - good. That means you are (maybe) connecting the wires inside the solenoid. So then what? Measure the voltage at the starter where the heavy cable is attached. You will put a test light or volt/ohm meter between that wire and ground (use the engine block for yor ground and/or the - post of your battery). Press the start switch. If you get a reading, there is a problem with the starter. If you dont get a reading, there is a problem INSIDE the solenoid.



My friend, if after you have performed all these tests and routines, if you still can't get your bike going - post another comment. We will get this thing going.



This is a 4 thumbs up answer, by the way, and deserves a glowing response from you at some point in the future.



Cable adjustment . ? . ? . ?

My friend, I am sending you a gob of information. Please read and understand before you start checking stuff. There is some redundency built into the comments.

Paint is generally an insulator. If you painted the frame and were luckey enough to get the engine back in without scratching the paint it could be part of the problem. Is your engine hard mounted to the frame or are there rubber motor mounts? Rubber motor mounts, definitely a insulator. You are certain any grounds connecting engine to frame are solid and working? One way to test this is to run a jumper cable from bare metal on the engine to the - post of the battery to provide a known good temporary ground.

Cable adjustment - I am confused by your comment. Are you saying you have a electrical cable that you don't know where it goes? Or are we talking about a mechanical control cable like for the clutch or the choke? You say there is a wire that goes from the solenoid to the head? Is this a ground or is it hot? Test this with a volt/ohm meter. Test it first for power. All your fuses are intact, correct? If they are, test this wire for voltage. Make sure you test with various switches first in the off position then in the on position. If you find no power on the wire, test it with the Ohm function. One lead on the wire, the other to ground. Do you get a 'short' reading? (Short means connected - no resistance).

Does everything else on the bike work? Lights, high beam, horn, radio, cd, satellite radio, computer outlet, WiFi, cell phone charger, cigarete lighter, sat dish, GPS, CB, back up alarm, burgler alarm, electric heated seat, windshield wiper, heated mirrors, passenger ejector function, heated handlebars? You may not have all these features :-) Point being, what, if anything, does not work that might be powered OR grounded by this wire.

Lets review the function of of the solenoid. I would expect the battery to be connected directly to the battery side of the solenoid and all power for the bike probably finds its way back to this lug or the lug on the battery. Everything, that is, except the starter. The starter is connected to the other side of the solenoid. The solenoid is a electric operated switch. Its function is connect the battery to the starter. Obviously, this can only be a momentary connection, otherwise, the starter would run all the time.

You turn the solenoid on when you press the start switch. What actually happens is you energize an electric magnet that pulls a contactor into position where the two heavy wires you actually see are connected (inside) allowing a large flow of electricity to flow to the starter.

The actual function of the starter solinoid is one side (small wire) has power on it - the other side goes to ground through the start switch. There is another way to power (ground always connected, power to the switch through the start button) but I think you get the picture. The run switch is also in that circuit. You did say the solenoid clicks, so there probably is no problem with the actual control/operation of this electrical switch. Still, even though it "operates" it might not be making internal contact. Test this with your test light. Place your test light on the "starter side" of the solenoid (and to ground) and press the switch. If it lights when you press the start switch, the solenoid is probably OK. No light, solenoid is suspect. You could also jump the solenoid with a heavy jumper cable to see if you can get power to the starter.

You have a click - good. That means you are (maybe) connecting the wires inside the solenoid. So then what? Measure the voltage at the starter where the heavy cable is attached. You will put a test light or volt/ohm meter between that wire and ground (use the engine block for yor ground and/or the - post of your battery). Press the start switch. If you get a reading, there is a problem with the starter. If you dont get a reading, there is a problem INSIDE the solenoid.

My friend, if after you have performed all these tests and routines, if you still can't get your bike going - post another comment. We will get this thing going.

This is a 4 thumbs up answer, by the way, and deserves a glowing response from you at some point in the future.

I hope you found my remarks helpful. A manual compression release, interesting. I have not encountered such a device on larger bore engines. They are common on little engines - making the engine easier to pull start.



So, what was it that kept the starter from turning over? Solenoid fault?



Thanks for the 4 thumbs. I appreciate that.







I hope you found my remarks helpful. A manual compression release, interesting. I have not encountered such a device on larger bore engines. They are common on little engines - making the engine easier to pull start.

So, what was it that kept the starter from turning over? Solenoid fault?

Thanks for the 4 thumbs. I appreciate that.