Key on but no power

[TimTyler]

...I've checked the load sharing relay and it looks mint.

That unfortunately doesn't necessarily mean that the load shed relay is okay on the inside.

[Big_B]

...I've checked the load sharing relay and it looks mint.

That unfortunately doesn't necessarily mean that the load shed relay is okay on the inside.

I opened it up and the contacts aren't touching or "welded shut". In fact the starter would keep spinning with it out. This one has me stumped.

[TimTyler]

I think the LSR contacts are only supposed to be open when you're pressing the Start button. ??

[Big_B]

Hmmm that's possible. I have no idea at all on that one. From reading the posts here I thought the starter would keep running if the load shed relay was welded shut. They said to hit it sharply to break the weld.

Just checked my starter relay and it looks fine also. But I can tell there's a short somewhere because the positive is sparking and the starter & lights come on with the key off.

Another clue is that all my lights come one, with the key, with the starter relay removed and there seems to be no short. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated and I'm more than happy to buy someone a beer if they are local.  :deal:

Calgon take me away!!!!! lol

[Big_B]

Ok I got the starter to stop spinning with the battery hooked up. Took apart the starter relay and sanded down the contacts. God I hope all I have to do is get it all back together.

I really appreciate this forum and all the members taking the time to help me out. I'd be lost without Motobrick!

[JamesInCA]

It's the starter relay sticking shut that causes the starter to keep running, not the load shed relay.

The starter relay being active also causes the load shed relay to cut power to the cluster lights etc. But the fault is not with the load shed relay; it's with the starter relay, or whatever causes the starter relay to be stuck (e.g. weak battery).

[JamesInCA]

Ok I got the starter to stop spinning with the battery hooked up. Took apart the starter relay and sanded down the contacts. God I hope all I have to do is get it all back together.

I really appreciate this forum and all the members taking the time to help me out. I'd be lost without Motobrick!

Were you able to open and reassemble the starter relay without damaging its case? And if so, any tips on how?  As I recall, mine looked pretty thoroughly sealed.

[Big_B]

Ok I got the starter to stop spinning with the battery hooked up. Took apart the starter relay and sanded down the contacts. God I hope all I have to do is get it all back together.

I really appreciate this forum and all the members taking the time to help me out. I'd be lost without Motobrick!

Were you able to open and reassemble the starter relay without damaging its case? And if so, any tips on how?  As I recall, mine looked pretty thoroughly sealed.

No I actually damaged the case a little bit getting it out. I'll snap a photo of the inside tangs that latch it if you like. Maybe it can be taken apart and reassembled without damage if you know what the inside clips look like.

Everything is working correctly except now the starter is just spinning when I hit the button. Can't see that I did something wrong putting the starter together as it's a very simple item. Maybe my sprag gear is messing up? Should I put it all together and see what it does & maybe roll it backwards? My oil is fresh Mobil 1 15/50 and I've never had any issues starting it before.

[Big_B]

Ok I got the starter to stop spinning with the battery hooked up. Took apart the starter relay and sanded down the contacts. God I hope all I have to do is get it all back together.

I really appreciate this forum and all the members taking the time to help me out. I'd be lost without Motobrick!

Were you able to open and reassemble the starter relay without damaging its case? And if so, any tips on how?  As I recall, mine looked pretty thoroughly sealed.

The best tips I could give are that the 2 little tangs that hold it all together are on the smaller ends of the relay. If you can pry the short ends apart enough to unlock it, it should come apart easily. Of course it didn't go that easily for me, but I may have been able to get it apart without cracking the outer shell if I knew what was holding it together. Once I had the 2 little tangs/clips freed, it came apart easily.

[kioolt]

I'm not sure about the lights but the starter relay probably has its contacts welded together from the time you had the ground wire on the starter post.  I have successfully unwelded contacts on my starter relay by simply tapping on the relay.  It's been working 20 years since I last unstuck them.

[Big_B]

I'm not sure about the lights but the starter relay probably has its contacts welded together from the time you had the ground wire on the starter post.  I have successfully unwelded contacts on my starter relay by simply tapping on the relay.  It's been working 20 years since I last unstuck them.

Yes I agree, the starter relay was stuck. I took it apart and cleaned up the contacts. My new issue is that the starter just spins without engaging the sprag gear. Almost sounds like its spinning backwards or something. Is there any way that the starter could not be installed correctly or maybe I got the assembly backwards when I put it back together? This is driving me nuts!

[kioolt]

I don't know of any way that you can install in wrong.  You may have assembled it wrong.  I just looked at my spare starter and it might be possible to have the body of the starter switched front to back.  It's been at least 10 years since I've have mine apart so I don't recall if this is really possible.

[Big_B]

I don't know of any way that you can install in wrong.  You may have assembled it wrong.  I just looked at my spare starter and it might be possible to have the body of the starter switched front to back.  It's been at least 10 years since I've have mine apart so I don't recall if this is really possible.

That's exactly what I did. Installed the body of the starter backwards which in turn made the starter run backwards. Just finished putting it all together and she started right up.

I thank anyone that had input in resolving this set of issues. Motobrick members have saved me countless times....thank you guys I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out.  :2thumbup:

[johnny]

greetings big_b...

way to stick with it... im gonna nominate you for the 13 motobrickorollocoster award at the year end board of directors meeting...

j o

[Big_B]

greetings big_b...

way to stick with it... im gonna nominate you for the 13 motobrickorollocoster award at the year end board of directors meeting...

j o

Haahahahaha I'll bashfully accept my award. Keep everyone posted on my progress or lack of progress. Thank you guys once again!

[eyeofcy]

I had the same issues as you.  No power with the key on.  I tried all the suggestions.  Clean ignition and kill switches, clean the starter etc.  What it was in the end was a bad/intermittent main ground wire from the battery to the frame.  I made a new one from some 12ga wire and new ends...Eureka!  All was right with my world.

As to the starter turning with the key off...That comes from trying to start the bike with a low battery.  one of the relays (loadshed-starter?) gets stuck or welded together and the starter keeps spinning reguardless of the key position.  Some say you have to replace the relay but I found a neat trick on these forums.  Pull the battery out, charge it up fully, reinstall the battery and attach the ground wire.  Ignition key on and the killswitch in the middle position (like you were going to start the bike)  Then touch the positive wire to the battery terminal and at the same time hit the starter button several times.  this broke the relay contacts free for me and I have put many miles on since.  Good luck!