Tip & How-To about Motorcycles

When I push the starter button on my motorcycle, my starter does not spin.

Your starter button is a two position switch. The lights are supposed to go dim when the button is pushed halfway in. When pushed in all the way it should activate the starter solenoid. The starter solenoid is located under the seat next to the battery. You can follow the positive battery cable directly to the starter solenoid. If you push the starter button and the starter solenoid clicks, then the starter button is good. If the you unplug the two smaller wires going to the starter solenoid and connect a voltage meter to the main harness leads , the needle should jump whenever you press the starter button. If it does not clean the button contacts or replace the right switch assembly. If the starter button is good then take a jumper wire and short across the two battery cables on the starter solenoid. This will put power directly to the the starter. If the starter works now replace the starter solenoid. If your starter still does not work, try holding the starter button and tapping on the starter with a plastic hammer. If the starter works now then you probably need to replace the starter brushes. If anything else is wrong with the starter you will need to replace the assembly as the dealer will usually only offer the starter brushes for repair purpose. If your starter is spinning but the motor is not turning over, then the one way clutch, on the flywheel inside the motor, needs to be repaired or replaced.

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Suziki Boulevard C90 wont start, when hitting the ignition nothing happens, but the lights dim

Your starter button is a two position switch. The lights are supposed to go dim when the button is pushed halfway in. When pushed in all the way it should activate the starter solenoid. The starter solenoid is located under the seat next to the battery. You can follow the positive battery cable directly to the starter solenoid. If you push the starter button and the starter solenoid clicks, then the starter button is good. If the you unplug the two smaller wires going to the starter solenoid and connect a voltage meter to the main harness leads , the needle should jump whenever you press the starter button. If it does not clean the button contacts or replace the right switch assembly. If the starter button is good then take a jumper wire and short across the two battery cables on the starter solenoid. This will put power directly to the the starter. If the starter works now replace the starter solenoid. If your starter still does not work, try holding the starter button and tapping on the starter with a plastic hammer. If the starter works now then you probably need to replace the starter brushes. If anything else is wrong with the starter you will need to replace the assembly as the dealer will usually only offer the starter brushes for repair purpose.
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my 250 vt 1999 turn key on headlights everything works! when I press start button headlight goes out and bike dosnt start, take finger off start button head light comes back on.

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Probably your starter button is the problem. On a lot of motorcycles the starter button is a two position switch. Push the button halfway in the headlight turns off. Push it all the way in and the solenoid engages the starter. This is to send more power to the starter motor. Try cleaning the button . If that does not work you may have to replace the switch assembly (the button is usually not sold separately).
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