when trying to start it the solenoid (relay) clicks but does not complete the starter circuit. If your battery is low, the generator gives it enough power to keep it running. If the the starter still clicks, clean ALL the battery cables and try again. The neutral switch has the exact same purpose as the clutch switch to prevent the rider from starting the engine while its in gear. A motorcycle isnt very fun if you cant get it started. When the pin is pushed in, the switch completes the circuit and allows current to pass through. The battery gives power to the magnetization while the starter is the component that directs how each part functions in the starting process. Hook your Continuity Testers wires up to your starter relays battery terminal and starter motor terminal. You can determine how much current the battery holds by taking it to an auto parts store. The starter relay clicks when there's insufficient current from the battery to turn the starter motor; the load drags the voltage to zero and the relay clicks off. Move the wheel and turn the key again and all good. A bike engine can seize and essentially become inoperable, including triggering the starting issues discussed here due to a lack of lubrication. Theres also a phenomenon called parasitic drain. You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. Keepin' all the left over parts. This includes the Positive at the battery and the starter. 4. Locate the starter relay. and the solenoid is polarizing the starter motor just fine. Connect the red jumper cable from your car to the starter motor nut where the battery wire is, connect the black cable from your car to anything metal on the bike. Checked the solenoid, that was ok, checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the +. A motorcycle starter goes bad usually because of age. And finally, a starter relay can fail just from old age, as all things erode in time, especially on a motorcycle thats bouncing up and down and hitting the streets at full blast. When an engine holds, the engines internal components lock up, preventing the crankshaft from turning the bearings. On the other hand, motorcycles arent complicated machinery, especially when compared to automobiles. If you have a kick-starting engine, the kick pedal will not move because the components inside the machine are held in place is an excellent method to identify if the engine is seized. An ignition relay costs $5 to $50, and labor costs $10 to $50. A seized motor is likely beyond repair. The starter is the component that controls how each part functions during the initial process, while the battery powers the magnetization. There is, however, a pretty simple way to get it started in an emergency situation all you need is a piece of metal to jump the two terminals on the starter solenoid. To confirm the problem to . You didn't say you checked battery voltage at the battery while at rest and while cranking (or trying to crank) Then check voltage at the battery side of the rela,then again at the starter side of the relay while pushing the button. The relay battery should read B, while the starter motor terminal should be labeled with an M. Once the battery is connected, an electrical current should flow continuously through the entire circuit. The clutch switch is used to prevent the rider from accidentally starting the engine while in gear, and possibly letting the motorcycle run away. Start with the most accessible or most likely factors to eliminate. Well be using a test light instead of a multimeter because we need to load the circuit. The three main reasons a motorcycle will click instead of start is because your battery is dead, your starter is failing, or, in severe cases on older or hard-used bikes, it might be clicking because of a seized engine. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure that the motorcycle is in neutral. This is caused by parts such as the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, etc. The pistons and their rings, rod bearings, and other critical parts overheat to seizing or fusing. Make sure your connections are both clean and tight. When the starter solenoid decides to call it quits, the starter motor won't work, either. Hook the clamp end of your test light to an engine ground then touch the test light to the starter post with the switch in start position. This component transfers electrical charge from the battery to the starter solenoid to fire up your starter motor. Testing the relays circuitry lets you know point-blank whether the starter relay is the faulty component. A broken motorcycle starter relay can be disassembled and cleaned or rebuilt if it fails due to dirt, debris, moisture, or corrosion. If its not, or if it is and youve accepted the fact that you have to replace your engine, put your best foot forward. It can also be a sign that the solenoid is not functioning correctly. What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? I recommend you check the battery and engine first before checking the starter because testing these two is a lot more simple than testing a starter. Related:Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved). Regardless, a starter system diagnosis would be the next step in determining if it is, in fact, your relay thats causing the problem. Even if you test the voltage on a battery and it reads 12.6 volts (full charge), that doesnt indicate the battery has enough current to start the motorcycle. Attempt to start the engine and listen to the starter relay. Luckily, there are only a handful of components that could go bad and prevent the engine from starting, and if you test them and the wiring integrity between them properly, youll be back on the road in no time. Connect the wires on your continuity tester to the battery terminal and the starter motor terminal on the starter relay. For some riders, they find their motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally. Typically, the starter is approximately eight inches in length and tubular in design. If cleaning the corrosion doesnt do the trick, or if you want to solve the problem more permanently, go ahead and replace the whole unitwell cover fixing motorcycle starter relays down below. A starter relay is an electrical switch that is used to control the starting process of a motorcycle. Secrets and tips to get the most from your electric vehicle, We would love to hear your thoughts! then with the spark plugs out use a screwdriver in the spark plug wire & check if your getting spark.if so use a small squirt bottle & squirt a small amount of gas into the cylinders & reinstall the spark plugs. If a corroded relay is your issue, clean the contact points following your moto-manufacturers service manual guidelines to restore proper contact and increase current flow. Along with your ground, starter solenoid, starter. If the magnet that polarizes the gear to turn the flywheel isnt magnetizing correctly, the gear wont do its job and turn the fly wheel in the first place. R2. If your battery doesnt have enough charge to power the magnet, the agent will fail in its attempts to crank the flywheel into motion. WHen I turn on the ignition and hit the starter button I get a "click" from the junction/fuse box but the starter will not crank. Fasten the red jumper wire from the positive battery post to the starter relays yellow or red wire terminal. Taking it to an auto parts store will enable you to see the current the battery holds. Its an easy fix, but it takes time, and you may need to make other transportation arrangements. Even if you test the voltage on a battery and it says 12.6 volts (a full charge), that doesnt necessarily mean theres enough current in the battery to get the motorcycle started. I get a used relay off ebay .. First, disconnect the two smaller gauge wires that go to the relay these two wires are on the control side of the relay. JavaScript is disabled. Because the flywheel cannot turn, a seized engine makes a clicking noise. Im sure its not the battery just got it earlier this year. The best offense is a good defense; routine maintenance per your bikes OEM-suggested spec intervals includes frequent oil changes and inspections. M mav This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Third, remove your primary cover (follow the step-by-step instructions in your manual) Fourth, remove the compensating sprocket nut and clutch hub lock ring. link to 6 Reasons Why Your Motorcycle Accelerates By Itself. Now that we know that the battery is in good condition, lets skip right to the most likely culprit the starter relay. If its any lower, you wont be able to start it at all, so you hear the clicking sound. Check the battery ground wire to the block for corrosion. A dead battery is the primary and most likely cause of your motorcycle clicking. did you try push-starting the bike?clean & dry the spark plugs with a propane torch. This post is to explain what the noise is and why it happens. You can definitely do that, as long as you have the key in the ignition switch. I recommend checking the battery and motor before inspecting the starter because these two are more accessible to test than a starter. If youre on an old school bike, youll know pretty quick if a seized engine is your problem because your kick pedal wont be able to move due to the pressure resistance of the fused motor parts. Starter Clicks Rapidly, But Bike Never Ignites, 4. The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. Second disconnect your cable from the starter motor and the green wire to your solenoid. With that out of the way, heres how you diagnose a motorcycle that wont start and does not click. The relay just keeps clicking repeatedly no crank. Also check ground strap from engine to frame. check the fuse under your seat. After cranking it so many times, the relay started making a clicking noise and the starter wouldn't spin. Both the positive battery cable and the negative cable. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. REVIEW: R1. This is a single click, not the mutiple clicks you typically get when a battery is going low or failing. Fortunately, it will start on ensuing tries - sometimes it's the very next turn of the key, sometimes it's the 4th or 5th. 12.2 is already only partially charged, as 12.6% is what they call a fully charged battery. Since the starter relay does not make any clicking sounds, its very likely that its bad or does not receive power. May 13, 2012. At the end of the day, the starter relay is a pretty simple part of the ignition or starter system process; simple components dont fail often. The average ignition relay replacement cost is between $15 and $100, depending on the car model and labor costs. motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crankwhat did deluca say to hayes in italian January 19, 2023 . This website or its third-party tools process personal data.In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link. See my article here for more information. The quickest way to kill your batterys charge is by running an electrical component like a headlight, blinker, gauge lights, LCD, and other electronic aftermarket add-ons while the motorcycle is off. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure that the motorcycle is in neutral. Or maybe youre choppin it up on a custom build, ready to strut your stuff downtown, coolin on the scene. Knowing what to do can be difficult in this situation. battery is showing 12.54 VDC. When attempting to start a motorcycle, it clicks. Faulty battery terminals or earth connection. If your bike has inconsistent starting patternsif theres a secret trick to start your motorcycle like pushing the starter button over and over again until the bike startsyou might have a bad starter relay. The other one is open and does not have any voltage. Solenoid, battery, and starter testing and replacement video. If you get the test light to light you . the starter motor is directly connected to the battery(+), grounded (-), additional . Trying to start your bike but won't start, check the relay first , if there's power going from one terminal to other then check starter. Charging a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours. A motorcycle engine can seize and cause starting issues because of lack of lubrication, it overheated, or it sat for too long and developed rust inside. If they do roll, your engine is fine. Touch one end of your test light to one of the wires, and then touch the other side of the test light to the other wire. That can cause electrical connections to overheat and melt. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) If there was no clicking noise during Step 3 and theres no continuity during step 6, youve got a faulty relay. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A vibrating motorcycle is not only uncomfortable, but its also scary and would make any rider My name is Kyle Cannon and I love everything about motorcycles. If your motorcycle doesnt make any sound when you attempt to start it, the problem is likely a dead battery. Copyright 2020 - 2022 Webnews21 (GMW). You can also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. Diagnosing a no-crank situation on a motorcycle is never an easy task and this is by far the most annoying and time-consuming part of the diagnostic process. Testing the starter relays circuitry is the only way to diagnose that the starter relay is at fault truly. Previous Post Next Post Lets cut to the troubleshooting process and break down the symptoms of a bad starter relay and look at the specifics. Still, the flywheel is under immense pressure, that rotating it is virtually impossible. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Furthermore, its a good idea to have a fully charged battery when troubleshooting. The ignition relay itself is often very cheap, and you can expect it to cost under $10, depending on if you want to buy an OEM original one or aftermarket. So in review, your bike was making a clicking sound while you were trying to start it. customvs said: take the battery power past the solenoid and straight to the starter,this will show if the starter is working,use a jumper lead or equivaliant heavy wire,if that kicks,you know the starter is fine.my guess is solenoid. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Very often on BCF people write that their bike won't start but makes a fast clicking noise. Still wouldn't start tried again 10 minutes later stared right up. As we mentioned above, the starter relay is the component in your starter system thatrelayspower from the battery to the starter motor. Some motorcycles (especially the more recent ones) are designed to stop the rider from starting the engine if the battery voltage is low. When the battery is dead and you turn the key, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking sound. Testing the side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the start button. They do not last forever and are known to go bad from time to time. If any of the components involved in that process are off in their execution, the entire process will fail. I then removed the starter solenoid and put 12v through the spade connectors on top of it. Check the battery cable connections for oxidation and coke buildup. For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. Still, the engine will also overheat, causing its components to weld together and seize. 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