Ducati Monster Forum

   Replaced carbs with some FCR's.  Bike was up and running but having an intermittent bogging down issue. I went to start it up to work on that issue and I turned key on and none of the indicator lights came on.  The starter solenoid or what I think is the solenoid just under the seat is making a humming noise. I turned it on and off a few times, all the lights came on it, it started once but then died. Now, no lights come on and starter solenoid still makes the humming noise and nothing when you hit the starter switch.

The item under the seat is the main relay, not the solenoid. It's a pretty standard item available from most box store auto parts places.

Some have removed the cover and cleaned the contacts with success if you feel adventurous.

Thanks painter,   Do you think that would have a correlation to why none of the indicator lights are coming on?

Absolutely...it powers most of the electrics.

So if it is shot then it wouldn't put enough power to run the lights or turn the starter.

It is possible a very weak batty could cause the relay to malfunction.

It is possible the relay is just bad.

If the dash doesn't power up then the relay isn't doing it's job.

Correct. Electrics (except for batteries) either function or don't. There's no detectable slow decay.

Huh?

I'm guessing I'm wrong? Either a switch works or it doesn't. Yes? I had a solenoid bite the dust once (different bike) and it didn't get slower or begin to react in a sporadic fashion. It gave me no indication it was gonna retire. It just stopped working. Same with my RR on my Duc.
Is this an incorrect view of most electronic components?

Electrical parts can degrade over time in different ways or totally fail, mostly mechanical.  Failures can be gradual, like contact points developing resistance over time, intermittent, like a winding that opens only at specific temperatures (a good example would be one of our pesky ignition pick ups) or total and immediate like a broken switch.

 Don't forget corrosion in the connectors.

 [thumbsup]

Found the problem. Bad negative/ground cable on the battery. Probably from us taking this damn thing apart so many times.  [bang]

Now back to getting the FCRs sorted.