starter shot?

[bikerbill2021]

hey everyone

so ive got my project here, a 75 CB500T, and im trying to sort out the starting system on it, but i think my starter may be shot. when i push the start button, i get a click from the solenoid under the seat, but thats it. no cranking or action from the starter. i tried jumping the terminals between the two terminals on the solenoid to see if it would crank, but nothing.

so im thinking either my starter is shot or i have it hooked up wrong (i have the solenoid grounded to the body, and the starter connected to the solenoid, but theres not ground wire coming from the starter, so im a bit confused on that).

what do you guys think? and whats the best way to test if my starter is shot? first project bike, so forgive me for sounding so noobish 8)

Tyler

 

[hillsy]

The starter grounds on the engine, so it only has a +ve lead.

Is your battery fully charged / accepting a charge? Make sure that is OK first before you dig in too deep (it could be shot / flat if you are jumping the solenoid and still getting nothing).

If that's OK, it's probably the starter (as you said you can hear a "click" from the solenoid).

 

[bhppy101]

Yep... check your ground first.... When you try to jump the solenoid... does it spark? If it shoots some sparks out and you still get no movement from the starter than thats most likely the culprit. You can pull your starter and hook it up directly to a battery to see if it spins.

 

[bikerbill2021]

Yep... check your ground first.... When you try to jump the solenoid... does it spark? If it shoots some sparks out and you still get no movement from the starter than thats most likely the culprit. You can pull your starter and hook it up directly to a battery to see if it spins.

battery is actually in great shape and holds a good charge, which surprised me when i bought the bike b.c it had been sitting for quite some time

when i jumped the terminals, i did get any spark, so im not sure what that means

if i were to pull the starter, would i just ground it to the battery off the terminal on the side of the starter that the positive line connects too? or would i ground it to something else?

thanks guys 8)

 

[hillsy]

Put the body of the starter on the -ve terminal of the battery, and touch the +ve lead on to the +ve terminal. If the starter is OK .....you will know ;D

 

[DrJ]

If all suggestions don't work, disassemble the starter and take a look at the brushes and commutator. They may either be dirty or worn out.

 

[bhppy101]

when i jumped the terminals, i did get any spark, so im not sure what that means


thanks guys 8)

Did or didnt? If you didnt get any sparks... that means that your main ground does not have a good connection. Follow the ground from your battery to where it connects to the frame.... Check and clean that connection at the frame.

 

[CCRider]

so im thinking either my starter is shot or i have it hooked up wrong (i have the solenoid grounded to the body, and the starter connected to the solenoid, but theres not ground wire coming from the starter, so im a bit confused on that).

Tyler

Solenoid grounded to the body??? Should be wired to the +battery terminal on one side and to the starter on the other.

CC

 

[bhppy101]

Solenoid grounded to the body??? Should be wired to the +battery terminal on one side and to the starter on the other.

CC

Good catch!

 

[bikerbill2021]

good stuff guys, thanks for the tips, ill have to check these things out

 

[rjz5400]

if it does turn out to be the soleniod or the starter motor i am selling my solenoid and i can go in and pull my starter out for you if you want to buy it.
i have been using my leg for some time now and it works fine.
see my thread "even more 76 cb550 parts electrical" i think the 500 and 550 are almost identical accept for the pistons.
also if you are not concerned about the authenticity i think a new soleniod can be had at any auto parts store.
anyway good luck and if it is just frozen or warn our taking the starter lead and " pulsing" power to it from a known good battery by removing the lead and touching it to the + side of battery can free it. on off on off onnnnnnnn offf onnnn offff on ofonofonoff on offfffff
it may just b locked up from witting or having worn contacts

 

[domer]

just because the battery reads 12v doesnt mean it has enough life left to crank the starter... try jumping it with a known good battery (car is fine if its NOT running) if it cranks your battery is gone... if it doesnt, well you got one possibilty out of the way! but id shoot for that first...