Starting problems. 83 vt750 - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

thunder25 · 06-30-2012, 09:31 PM

OK a couple weeks ago I was riding to work on and 83 vt750 I had just bought when my bike died at about 75 mph. What I think happened because it had happened before was the starter stuck running. I pulled the clutched and coasted to the left side which was closest.
When I got off the terminal on the starter was smoking pretty bad the cable from starter relay to starter was smoking and melting. The ground and power cables from the battery were hot as ****. I managed to grab some. Pliers and disconnect the cables. Two hours late to work bike towed

Work done so far: starter replaced cause completely burnt. Replaced stator cause the plugs were melted. Replaces regulator rectifier cause plugs were melted. Starter button and harness replaced cause I had a spare.

Battery completely charged and tested with the battery tender. Only thing left to replace is my starter relay solenoid which I ordered today on eBay. When I tried turning it on after replacing everything except the solenoid I would get nothing. I felt the wires from were getting hot after a couple tries of the starter button.

Idk what to do after replacing the solenoid. I fear that I will toast up my new starter and stator and rectifier which cost about 300. Any one have any ideas on what could be wrong and why my starter could be getting stuck turning after the button is released? Help
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93gc40 · 06-30-2012, 11:22 PM

Stator and r/r have NOTHING to do with starting the bike. There is NOTHING in the starter to make it get stuck ON, that can only happen if the solenoid is bad, it jams. So yeah replacing the relay should fix your starter issue, since it is likely the cause. Now the Stator and RR may also be more colateral damage. Won't know till bike is running.

thunder25 · 06-30-2012, 11:54 PM

Yeah I know that the taters and rec do not have anything to do just it was till after that break down happen that I noticed the condition of those parts they were going to need replacing either way but the relay is ordered well see. Do you think the ground and positive cable to battery getting really hot is abnormal and have anything to do with a bad relay?

THE TERMINATOR

verdeva · 07-01-2012, 01:33 PM

What wires are getting hot without the starter relay installed? You said they get hot still when you push the starter? There should be no power flowing without a relay.

Sent from my NookColor using Motorcycle.com App

thunder25 · 07-01-2012, 01:48 PM

Before ordering the relay and after installing the new starter I tried it using the old relay. The negative and positive battery cable are the one getting really hot. I'm hoping it should all be fixed with the new relay but I don't know for sure.

THE TERMINATOR

Earthling789 · 07-01-2012, 02:01 PM

A bad relay, or a bad starter could cause the "excess" current draw you are experiencing, which is heating up your cables.

Pop in a new relay, and if that does not immediately fix your problem... I would suspect the starter itself is the issue... it will need to be replaced or rebuilt. They are dirt-simple to rebuild, and you could have it done locally or do it yourself for half the cost of a good, used one... normally.

EDIT: Sorry, I missed the part about a new starter... was it a new or rebuilt one... or a "good" used one? If used, it may also be bad...

thunder25 · 07-01-2012, 02:20 PM

Brand spanking new . Hasn't turned yet. Bought a repair kit for it but it was when I opened the starter up it was so burnt that I removed a couple grams of burn residue. I returned the repair kit and got my new starter. I just tried starting it to see what would happen. I should get my relay those week

THE TERMINATOR

snorkeldorf · 07-14-2012, 01:26 PM

@terminator...i'm having a similar problem with my '83....when i hit the start button the relay welds closed and the starter cranks continually...i've gotten good at quickly disconnecting the battery!!....brand new (not rebuilt) starter, new battery and new relay have not cured it...the trigger switch is not the problem as my meter shows it working properly....if you come across some reason for the high current draw that is heating your cables please let me know as i have faith that high draw is what keeps welding my contacts closed in the relay and any suggestions would be appreciated

Snork

06-30-2012, 09:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
thunder25 Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 226	Starting problems. 83 vt750 OK a couple weeks ago I was riding to work on and 83 vt750 I had just bought when my bike died at about 75 mph. What I think happened because it had happened before was the starter stuck running. I pulled the clutched and coasted to the left side which was closest. When I got off the terminal on the starter was smoking pretty bad the cable from starter relay to starter was smoking and melting. The ground and power cables from the battery were hot as ****. I managed to grab some. Pliers and disconnect the cables. Two hours late to work bike towed Work done so far: starter replaced cause completely burnt. Replaced stator cause the plugs were melted. Replaces regulator rectifier cause plugs were melted. Starter button and harness replaced cause I had a spare. Battery completely charged and tested with the battery tender. Only thing left to replace is my starter relay solenoid which I ordered today on eBay. When I tried turning it on after replacing everything except the solenoid I would get nothing. I felt the wires from were getting hot after a couple tries of the starter button. Idk what to do after replacing the solenoid. I fear that I will toast up my new starter and stator and rectifier which cost about 300. Any one have any ideas on what could be wrong and why my starter could be getting stuck turning after the button is released? Help THE TERMINATOR

06-30-2012, 11:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
93gc40 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 4,456	Stator and r/r have NOTHING to do with starting the bike. There is NOTHING in the starter to make it get stuck ON, that can only happen if the solenoid is bad, it jams. So yeah replacing the relay should fix your starter issue, since it is likely the cause. Now the Stator and RR may also be more colateral damage. Won't know till bike is running. __________________ 93 VT1100C Harley Killer (1150cc), VH Exhaust, 2mm sleeved and bored, Modified Heads and Valves, Adjustable Timing, Touring Seat, Baby Apes, Metzlers

07-01-2012, 01:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
verdeva Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brier, WA Posts: 564	What wires are getting hot without the starter relay installed? You said they get hot still when you push the starter? There should be no power flowing without a relay. Sent from my NookColor using Motorcycle.com App __________________ 01 Sabre Dave 08 V-Star 1300T Sarah

07-01-2012, 02:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Earthling789 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Irvine, Kentucky Posts: 1,269	A bad relay, or a bad starter could cause the "excess" current draw you are experiencing, which is heating up your cables. Pop in a new relay, and if that does not immediately fix your problem... I would suspect the starter itself is the issue... it will need to be replaced or rebuilt. They are dirt-simple to rebuild, and you could have it done locally or do it yourself for half the cost of a good, used one... normally. EDIT: Sorry, I missed the part about a new starter... was it a new or rebuilt one... or a "good" used one? If used, it may also be bad... __________________ Current - 2002 VT1100C2 Sabre 1985 VT700C Shadow 1999 CB750 NightHawk (son's ride) "The Hardest Part About a Zombie Apocalypse, Will Be Pretending I'm Not Excited" Last edited by Earthling789; 07-01-2012 at 02:06 PM.

06-30-2012, 11:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
thunder25 Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 226	Yeah I know that the taters and rec do not have anything to do just it was till after that break down happen that I noticed the condition of those parts they were going to need replacing either way but the relay is ordered well see. Do you think the ground and positive cable to battery getting really hot is abnormal and have anything to do with a bad relay? THE TERMINATOR

07-01-2012, 01:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
thunder25 Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 226	Before ordering the relay and after installing the new starter I tried it using the old relay. The negative and positive battery cable are the one getting really hot. I'm hoping it should all be fixed with the new relay but I don't know for sure. THE TERMINATOR

07-01-2012, 02:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
thunder25 Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 226	Brand spanking new . Hasn't turned yet. Bought a repair kit for it but it was when I opened the starter up it was so burnt that I removed a couple grams of burn residue. I returned the repair kit and got my new starter. I just tried starting it to see what would happen. I should get my relay those week THE TERMINATOR

07-14-2012, 01:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
snorkeldorf Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 7	@terminator...i'm having a similar problem with my '83....when i hit the start button the relay welds closed and the starter cranks continually...i've gotten good at quickly disconnecting the battery!!....brand new (not rebuilt) starter, new battery and new relay have not cured it...the trigger switch is not the problem as my meter shows it working properly....if you come across some reason for the high current draw that is heating your cables please let me know as i have faith that high draw is what keeps welding my contacts closed in the relay and any suggestions would be appreciated Snork

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