Dead solenoid?

[pitbull]

2001 monster 900.

After winter storage, bike would not start, although fuel pump and lights fired up. No click, no nothing.

My battery was 8 years old, cracked and generally beat to hell, so I assumed it had given up the ghost.

New battery, same problem. Fuel pump engages, lights turn on, no clicking.

I pulled the solenoid, cleaned all terminals, cleaned connection at the starter, cleaned ground connection, all with sand paper and wire brush, and electrical  cleaner.

All wiring from starter switch looks good, but I suppose there could be a break somewhere within the loom.

A screw driver across the solenoid terminals turns the engine over, but it didn't fire up.


Now, just for the sake of history, last year the solenoid on my ST2 crapped out on the day I was  to leave for a long trip out west, in September. To get me on the road, I poached the solenoid from the monster and installed on the ST2. When I got home, I bought a used solenoid off ebay and put it on the monster. I  only rode the monster a couple times after that, before winter settled in.

I haven't yet tested anything with a volt meter as I don't have one , but am borrowing one from a buddy in the next day or two.

Lastly, I suck at electrical stuff.


Any thoughts are much appreciated.

[DarkMonster620]

Check sidestand sensor, disconnect and bypass . . . just make sure bike is in Neutral

[Howie]

There is a white connector on the back of the solenoid.  First step is to make sure you have a good, clean tight connection.  Try starting the bike.  Starts?     No start?  The red/blue wire in that connector should be hot key on, starter button pressed.  The orange blue wire goes to the computer.  If there is no power to the red/blue wire you may have a problem with the left hand switch or wiring between the switch and solenoid. 

Checking the function of the solenoid is easy enough.  Remove connector.  Apply battery voltage to one small terminal, battery negative to the other.  You should hear the solenoid click. 

To bypass the sidestand sensor if not already bypassed, just disconnect and jump the wires on the engine side of the harness.  Like Darkmonster620  said, make damn sure the bike is in neutral.

Enough for now, if this doesn't work we can take you further.

[pitbull]

Thanks guys,
I will have some time this afternoon to get to it. I appreciate the list of things to check, that I haven't so far.


The white plug is good, I did have a problem with it working it's way loose a few years back, so check it frequently.

Outside of a dead battery 8 years ago, I've had no real starting issues in the 12 years and 110,000km's I've had the bike, so I'm feeling pretty lucky to be honest.

[Blue]

I had a similar experience with my 2000 M900ie.  It was a broken wire in the loom near the headstock and between the triple clamps.  I think the wire was brown.  Solenoid was good, power to everything, same as yours.
My thread:
2000 M900ie Starter Solenoid or Starter Relay Test

Another thread where the same thing happened. 
Bike won't start after cutting wires from dashboard.. No immobilizer on the bike

Good Luck!

[pitbull]

Blue, I did read your thread while going through a search yesterday and found it very helpful.



I didn't get the time I thought I would have this afternoon and I might not get a chance to get to is this weekend, but I'm off on holidays next week and will figure it out Monday for sure.


All the suggestions are very much appreciate and I will definitely report back.

[silas]

Washed it recently?? Tap the starter solenoid a few times w a hammer lightly. It worked for mine on my 98 M900 after I had gotten it wet during a wash and it stopped working for a week or two. Got tired of push starting and listening to flack from co workers so I called in my mechanic friend. He tapped it a few times and it fired right up.  4 years later my solenoid has never caused problems again. Apparently a wash can stop mine from working while riding in full rainstorms doesn't affect it.  My friend said its an old trick on Fords.

[memper]

A weak battery will make a solenoid behave funny. Sometimes it will even get stuck and cause your starter to keep cranking.

[pitbull]

Washed it recently?? Tap the starter solenoid a few times w a hammer lightly. It worked for mine on my 98 M900 after I had gotten it wet during a wash and it stopped working for a week or two. Got tired of push starting and listening to flack from co workers so I called in my mechanic friend. He tapped it a few times and it fired right up.  4 years later my solenoid has never caused problems again. Apparently a wash can stop mine from working while riding in full rainstorms doesn't affect it.  My friend said its an old trick on Fords.

I have not washed the bike yet this year. I only wash once a summer whether it needs it or not. I am willing to give anything a shot however. Looks like I will have a little time today to have at it

[pitbull]

A weak battery will make a solenoid behave funny. Sometimes it will even get stuck and cause your starter to keep cranking.

Shiny new battery.

[pitbull]

After checking and cleaning every connection from the battery, solenoid, starter and side stand and not being able to find any issues in the wiring, that were visible, I ordered a new solenoid from Desmo times. I actually ordered a couple as they were only $55 and I figured carrying a spare on the ST4 when travelling would be a good idea.

Anyhow, installed the new solenoid on the monster and she fired right up.


Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. It looks like it was the solenoid this time, but if I have another starting issue down the road, there were lots of good things in this thread that I will remember to run a check through.