bike won't turn off - sort of

[live2ride]

ok, went out tonight and had some major issue with the bike.  get to my destination, try to turn off the bike but engine continues to "click"
this happens if i turn off with the key or the kill switch.  continues even if i remove the key completely.

if i turn the key back to on or turn the killswitch back to "on", then the bike starts without me having to press the 'start' button.  

this leads me to believe the starter is constantly engaged.  i'm guessing the starter solenoid specifically.  

now here is where i doubt myself.  the sound that continues when i remove the key is not the same sound if i were cranking the engine and it not starting.  its more a clicking than a cranking sound.  so i am doubting myself.  however, i'm assuming its the clicking of the solenoid, and its not able to turn the engine since the key (or killswitch) is set to "off".  would this assumption be correct?  

this is my only mode of transport and need to fix asap.  so i want to get this right the first time.  as for now, i had to disconnect the battery at each destination.  this is made more difficult as i have saddlebags attached and those need to be removed, then the seat, then the tank.  

if i can't find a solenoid tomorrow, i plan to rig a 40amp switch to the negative terminal so i can disconnect the battery when i get to my destination.  hopefully this lasts until i can get a proper starter solenoid....assuming this is the problem.  

besides a ducati solenoid from a monster (i have a 750), is there any other solenoid that would work?  hopefully cheaper and more readily available....?  what are the specs of the duc solenoid?

thoughts?  help?   thanks.

[live2ride]

additional question -

is there a "wrong" way to connect a solenoid?  i've replaced them on plenty of outboards but i've always been able to source the correct part so i never had an issue.

assuming i can't find a ducati solenoid, i'm thinking of replacing it with anything of similar size instead of the ghetto switch idea.  i want to make sure this is a viable option.  

from what i recall, small pins (or thin gauge wires) go to switch.  thick pins (or thick wires) go to starter/ground.  sound right?  does it matter which pin goes to ground and which pin goes to to the starter?  does it matter which small wire goes to red or black?  i'm assuming they are each a single throw "switch", thus the way its connected doesn't matter. basically, what i'm asking is, "does the solenoid have a + and - polarity?  or does it just matter that 'input' pins go to switch and 'output' pins go to starter?  yes?  no?

[Speeddog]

Sounds like your starter solenoid is stuck.

California Cycleworks, a sponsor here, has a replacement solenoid.

AFAIK, there's no polarity to either the control connections or the power connections.

[live2ride]

ca-cycleworks is sold out.  i have a busy weekend and will need my ducati as transportation.  i'm hoping to find a replacement solenoid in the morning.  i'm seeing yamaha solenoids may work with some rewiring.  is the fit the same as well?  any other brand work? is there anything from autozone/advance auto that would work?  the bike shop nearby has a decent amount of parts in stock so i'm hoping to get lucky there but if not, i'll have to resort to something else...  i have about 3 hours in the morning to find a solution. 

[Howie]

ca-cycleworks is sold out.  i have a busy weekend and will need my ducati as transportation.  i'm hoping to find a replacement solenoid in the morning.  i'm seeing yamaha solenoids may work with some rewiring.  is the fit the same as well?  any other brand work? is there anything from autozone/advance auto that would work?  the bike shop nearby has a decent amount of parts in stock so i'm hoping to get lucky there but if not, i'll have to resort to something else...  i have about 3 hours in the morning to find a solution. 

AFAIK, Chris is selling a Yamaha solenoid with everything you need for the wiring.  Car solenoids would be to big and heavy.  If you bring your solenoid to the nearby shop they may be able to match you up with something.

[battlecry]

Don't know about the 750, this is about a 2003 M800.  The relay is made by Denso, so it could be sourced from a Japanese bike manufacturer.   

This may help you in a pinch and may not take too much time.  The relay is a small can covered by a rubber mounting sleeve with a plastic cap covering the connections and a plastic cap locating the terminals.  Disconect the battery, disconnect the relay trigger connector on the small pigtail.  Pull off the connections plastic cover using a small screwdriver to pinch the tabs.  Take off the 10mm nuts holding the battery/starter cables.  (Did you disconnect the battery?)     
Pull off the relay from the frame mounting tabs.  The rubber cover slides off the end of the can, revealing the can and a plastic cover surrounding the terminals.  Pry the plastic cover off.  Take off the two 10mm nuts on the terminals.  Under the nuts and washers are small rubber o-rings sealing the relay case,  take them off.   You will see that the terminals are loose and you should be able to spray contact cleaner into the relay switch, as well as bang it and shake it a few times.  Go to town on it, can't hurt it.   Reassemble and test on the bench.  If it works, you're fine.  If it doesn't, you can take the Denso can to your Yamaha dealer and compare.  Note that you can resolder the Ducati trigger cables to a new relay, so don't throw them away.   Good luck. 

[live2ride]

i lucked out, dealer had it in stock.  of course, it had to be the dealer 40 miles away, but gave me an excuse to ride.   was able to replace it in the parking lot and fired right up and shut right off. 

i wish i had read your post earlier battlecry.  i've only seen solenoids that were riveted shut and didn't even think that i could clean the contacts and rebuild it.  i have the old one so maybe i will give it a clean and keep it as backup if i can get it working properly.  thanks everyone for the help