'76 CB360T Electric Starter

[orlandoc1]

I picked up my first ride on Monday, a '76 CB60T. It runs, with no obvious problems, shined it up and rode it around no problem since then. Today when I was starting it up, I was getting no juice from the electric start. Kickstart works fine and the bike idles and runs, but when I run the electric start all I get is a clicking from next to the battery underneath the seat, not even the whir of it trying to start. I charged the battery from my car for about 20 minutes and im still getting nothing. Any ideas on what to look for or where to go from here? unfortunately my town is short on guys willing to work on older bikes and I am still pretty new to this. Thanks

 

[Bert Jan]

Dead battery. Possible its broken but like almost all old honda's, the charging system goes awol. Best to do is measuring some stuff with a multi-meter. If you dont have one or dont know what it is, get one. They're cheap prOblem-solvers


First, make sure your battery is fully charged.

With the bike off, measure voltage between battery terminals. Set the meter to 20v DC.
Report readings.

Start the bike and measure again, while bike is running. Report readings.

While still in neutral, hit the throttle up to 5000rpm and report those findings also.

First one should be at least 12.1 volts. If lower, you have not enough juice in thr battery. If you're sure you've fully charged it, replace the battery.

Second reading should be between 11 and 13 volts, if lower, you have either a short or faulty power from alternator/regulator

Third reading should be above 13,5 volts. If lower, you have a short or faulty alternator/regulator.

Reports findings so we can help you!

 

[plagrone]

Check the starter solenoid. These bikes don't really run well with a dead battery so that is unlikely.

 

[orlandoc1]

So I ran the multimeter through the paces with everything you listed and it ran 12.57, 12.53 and then 13.78 so I dont think that was the problem. Im including a video of my problems and I think I ran into something else. The kickstart wasnt working so well which I intended to get on video but of course as soon as I turn the camera on it worked hahah But after running it on idle for a minute or two at 3000rpm it dropped down to 2000 and then there was a loud violent banging around from the engine that scared the daylights out of me so I killed it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O33Vg9KEgiA

 

[orlandoc1]

So I was taking a look at the solenoid and saw a ton of corrosion and rust so i decided to take it out, clean it up with new bolts/washers and put it back in hoping it would work, it didnt. But on the other hand, while taking out the solenoid, I touched the battery or solenoid and something else with a screwdriver, sparks went up and the bike tried to start electrically, so that happened.

 

[crazypj]

That's normal when you bridge starter circuit on solenoid (one way to test for a bad solenoid)
I have several starter motors, solenoids and various other parts and pieces for CB360's.
Are you in Orlando area?
If so, going to Ace Cafe Groundbreaking tomorrow? (Thursday 30th April)

 

[trek97]

soleniod is nothing more than a relay w large copper contacts, coil and armature. The contacts are probably dirty or toasted. you can find new ones cheap on ebay.