81 cb400t electric start not working

badluck

badluck

81 CB 400t
I have a 81 cb400t that I just recently removed the rear signal and break lights (still off the bike atm) I also just yesterday swapped out my oem bars for clubmans. Upon reconnecting everything I turned the key on... front signals and head lamp work hit the start button...nothing. The bike has not been turned over in a month and previous to that I had no issues. (The battery is new this year ). Any thoughts?
 
Did you check battery voltage when you press starter? (do lights go out?)
Could be a loose wire after tweaking things about fitting new bars, the solder joint could have failed?
 
I have all gauge lights and power to the horn. Is there a fuse for the elec start?

The soldering looked to be ok with in the hosuing for the elec start.

When I changed out the controls I did not disconnect the battery, could this have caused the problem?

Night time here..will check the wire connections tomorrow in the light of day.

Thanks
 
Kick Stand switch - not on bike so not an issue

I bought a continuity tester and I have power from the switch. I changed the main 15a fuse and still no go.

I also sanded the paint off the bar in the area of the ground with in the starter housing. I am going sand it a bit more to ensure I have ground.

Is there another fuse between the elect start and the solenoid?

Thanks in advance!
 
yes to the clutch

Did you bridge wires for stand switch?...you lost me at did. lol no clue what you mean unless you mean the kick stand switch and this bike doesn't have one.
 
Ah, I didn't remember them having one but it sounded like you removed it.
What about clutch switch, it has one of those, (green with red tracer I think?)
You may have to get into headlight to bridge it? (connect wires together)
 
I will check that tomorrow. Do you know if there is another fuse for the elec start other than the main fuse?

thanks for the help.
 
Can't remember, it's probably 25 years since I looked at one.
There are 3 or 4 fuses under the seat in fuse box, should be 2 spares (or does yours have fuse panel on handlebar clamp?)
 
Thanks again for the help!! It is much appreciated.

I think there may be a small fuse inside the housing...dreading taking that and the throttle off again. Was no picnic putting that back on. Ugh!!

I am going to look for a wiring diagram and see where that leads me.
 
Fuses are behind side panel and there is main, tail and another I think, along with the 2 spares if they haven;t been used. Check continuity on the holders(Clips) as they can corrode and even with a good fuse, not pass current. remove the fuses and clean the clips with emry cloth. The start button on these can get corroded and just stop working, you can take it apart carefully and clean the 3 brass pads and the slide, then di-electric grease it and put it back together. There is a little spring etc you don't want to lose and careful not the break the little plastic clips that hold the button housing together. Sometimes just pushing the button a bunch of times, with key off, will clean it enough to work again after sitting.
 
Wow, great stuff. I found the main, head lamp and brake lamp fuses and changed out the main 15 amp. The points on electric start are black, they seem to be painted. There was some slight and I mean slight corrosion on the solenoid connections but was not getting any power to the solenoid with the key on and hitting the start button. So I am going off track between the start and solenoid. I will double check the points at the fuses and clean them along with the start button.

Electrical is a road seldom travelled by this cat.

Any tips on dealing with the throttle cables? They were not friendly when I was putting them back in place.

muchas gracias!

side note...would there be any reason that this could be caused by the tail lamp and rear signals being disconnected at the moment? I cant see why it would but you never know!
 
You 'tweaked' something when you changed bars, re-trace the steps.
Sounds like everything needs re-routing properly?
 
Turn the ignition and kill switch on, then jump the starter solenoid with a screwdriver. The starter should spin. It will confirm some suspicions and it's fun.
 
Found the problem!!!!!! It was the ground. I took my drill with a wire wheel attached and went to work on the bars. I bolted it back together and it turned over albeit only a little cuz now my battery is dead ::)...of course the battery would die on me...lol.

In my rush (new rule #1 do not rush) I forgot to remove the wires to the master cylinder and pulled a connector off. So it wasn't a great start. I repaired that error and carried on. Then while I was reinstalling the throttle sleeve I broke one of the tabs that holds the cable in place..ugh. I have it it in place but will need a new one. I need to be a tad more gently with the old gal.

So to recap... electric start fixed!!! However I broke my throttle sleeve in the process. Anyone have one for sale?

Thank you all for all your ideas and assistance. Hopefully I will be able to return the favour someday.

So here she is after I got her back to together
 

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LOL..why yes it is. My brother gave me a solar battey charger and I was trying to grab the last few rays the day was offering. I have never used it before...not sure if it even works.
 
It won't work to charge battery, just maintains what you already have (I bought one a few years ago as car was going to be parked for a month)
 
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