1976 cb360 starter won't work

[nnichols211]

1976 cb360t, Can't get electric start to work. It kicks over just fine and runs great, but when I push the start button, the headlight dims and the solenoid wont click. I have the 2 pin connector (red and red/white wire) connecting to one terminal, the thick gauge wire from positive to the same terminal, and then the thick gauge wire from the starter motor to the other terminal on the Solenoid. It has a charged battery. If I bridge the solenoid terminals with a screwdriver, the starter will turn over and the bike will start. So I ordered a new solenoid but still the same problem. After closer inspection of the old solenoid (which I'm now thinking isn't bad) there is a red/yellow wire and a green/red wire. I know the red/yellow comes from the starter button, but the green/red is the neutral indicator according to the wiring diagram?

The starter button sticks a little but will still come out slowly. I was assuming its working okay because it's dimming the headlight (which from what I read is normal for the 360). The neutral indicator light seems to be working okay when I kick through the gears, it will light up in neutral. So if someone has more knowledge on the 360s wiring could something with the neutral indicator prevent the electric start from working. I'm only thinking that because of the green and red wire that plugs into the solenoid. Or is it worth taking apart the right hand controls and searching for the problem in there.

 

[focusinprogress]

make sure the button itself is clean...the contacts inside....it operated by completing a ground circuit and if the ground is poor/weak it won't be enough to engage the solenoid and from there engage the starter....that's why it is working when you jump the solenoid but not when you push the button.

 

[nnichols211]

Ah okay gotcha, I'll give it a try this weekend. Just some contact cleaner and dielectric grease?

 

[Sonreir]

I have the 2 pin connector (red and red/white wire) connecting to one terminal, the thick gauge wire from positive to the same terminal, and then the thick gauge wire from the starter motor to the other terminal on the Solenoid.

The red and red/white wires on the solenoid are not for activating it. They're for the connection to the main fuse and the rectifier.

The solenoid should have a black and a yellow/red wire that are used for its operation. See attached pic.

 

[nnichols211]

Mine has a green/red wire instead of the black one. This didn't match up to the wiring diagram but I checked on eBay and found the same one that I have multiple times. I was a little confused by this. Below is a picture of the type that I have

 

[Sonreir]

That's fine. You can treat it as a black wire.

The one you have is from a later model bike that provides the power from the yellow/red and grounds through the green/red (usually in conjunction with a bunch of extra stuff like clutch switches, side stand switches, neutral switches, etc).

 

[nnichols211]

Okay thanks, I'll start with cleaning the contacts of the start button. I had a feeling it could be the start button because its sticky and doesn't spring out right away. I'm expecting to open it up and find something corroded and/or broken in there

 

[Sonreir]

It's worth using a multimeter to test the resistance of the button. You should get less than an Ohm between ground and the yellow/red wire (in the harness) when pressing the start button.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

On the 76, the starter button is a single pole, double pole switch. The normally closed side is 12V to the headlight. When you depress the starter switch, the 12V is disconnected from the headlight, and connected to the solenoid.

So if your headlight comes on, and goes off when the switch is depressed, you know that 12V makes it to the switch.

Here'sd a late model schematic that is correct: