Problem starting 04 mastiff

Energy One
cfrench

cfrench

Member
Ok the guy I bought the bike from just replaced the battery but I know that doesn't mean anything. New parts go bad all the time. Anyway, sunday I went out for a 6 hour cruise and had a lot of fun but towards the end of the day when I would shut it down to break for a few and go to start it back up I would just hear a click coming from the ignition key plate (solenoid click). If I let it sit for a while it would start again. Then it started doing it more and more. Last gas station before home it did it again and got to looking and found the positive terminal bolt was not tight at all and after I found someone with some tools and tightened it, fired off. Ok I have a battery tender for the bike so it has been charging sense monday. I did ride it monday for a couple of hours and didn't have any problems. I went to start it tonight and it turned over then it started clicking again on me. I left to go mail something and took my truck instead and came back and it turned over again but then clicked again. I checked the battery terminals again for being tight and they are. Its getting late now and I will do more investigating tomorrow but wondering if anyone has seen this and can tell me right away what it is. Thanks
 
Raywood

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Hey, welcome to the site.

If you search out RUFroggy he has been having problems with his starter. Replace the battery then the start switch then the EHC but still the problem. Turning out now it may be the starter solenoid.

Good luck in tracking yours down.

:cheers:
 
cfrench

cfrench

Member
Got my bike fixed and just thought I would share my thought process and steps I went threw. Ok so it was a nice day and I was on a mission to ride so I left work at 1pm. ;)

came home a put my meter on my batter and had 13.1v. Pulled my green wire off my starter and hooked my meter to it and hit the start button and had 12.8v which should be enough to start the dog. I pulled the solenoid cover off and cleaned the contacts and barrell like I have read and put it back together. Hit the start and of course click. Ok I get a call from work to run a a/c call. Of course cause I wanted to ride. So I go and come back 2 hours later and now 4pm. So I pull the solenoid cover back off just to watch what it does when I try and start it. I hit the start button and the plunger only pulls half way in. So I try and clean it better. Still only pulls it half way in. I hit the start again but this time give the plunger a little a little help and it grabs and it turns over. Ok so then I thought is it getting hung up on the gear side so I take off the primary cover. Used my wife's cake pan to catch the oil lol, and manually tried working the starter shaft and gear to make sure it was free and not binding. I then hit hit the start again and it only pulled the plunger in half way with no movement from the gear and shaft. I hit it again and gave a little tug on the starter gear and it grabbed. I then came to the conclusion that I had a weak starter. Went and bought a new one and $350 dollars later it was staerting better then ever.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top