My Turn...Starter Relay Bad???

[Labswine]

Ok, Bike is as below in sig...

Today, oil change, shine up and all...go to start it up (mind you hadn't run the bike since the end of July), turn the key, all the idiot lights are lit...hit the start button, a little bzzzt, and nothing...no little lights no nuttin'.

So, I figger the battery is down too far to start, so I threw the charger on for an hour while shining up the bike, and lo-and-behold, she fires right up no muss, no fuss.

The wife and I go out for a nice late afternoon ride to Frenchtown, NJ for some dinner.

After dinner, the same problem again...I fiddle with the key in the ignition a bit and get the idiot lights to come on, and after hitting the starter, get that bzzzzt and nuttin'. A few more fiddles, and the bike starts right up, so off we go straight home.

On the way, the wife is cold. I pull over to get out another jacket for her, and STOOOOPID me, puts the kickstand down while in gear, shutting off the bike. Hit the start button, a little bzzzzt and nuttin..I mean deader than a door nail!!!!! On the phone with AAA for about 15 minutes, and just for shits and giggles, try the key again, lights and she turns right over.

Now that the symptoms are out there, thoughts on the issue?

Starter relay is bad? Or is the key switch bad?

My leaning is towards the relay because if it is bad, and a possible heat issue of the contacts not changing like they should to start up, because after a little bit it goes away and I can start the bike...

Input greatly appreciated before I spend money on the wrong thing (new key switch ass'y )

[MarkC]

Simple stuff first!
Check any and all battery connections!.

And by the way some of the key switches on these bikes can be removed, and taken apart enough to clean the contacts on the inside and be just fine! But that is if you actually find a problem with the switch and your going to replace it. I had a friend have a problem with his switch on a VT1100 Sabre. He had used some of that spray on rinse off foam crap and some of it got into the switch and corroded it.
MarkC

[Labswine]

Originally Posted by MarkC

Simple stuff first!
Check any all battery connections!.
MarkC

Wuz the first thing I did

They wuz all good and clean. I did find it funny, though that one of the times I wiggled around the key switch (after dinner) that it did start right up, but later on (after the kickstand incident) it didn't which is leading me towards the relay?

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by Labswine

Wuz the first thing I did

Good And Clean, is good, but Wuz'em Good And Tight?
I've seen a few posters in the past four years that found that the battery connections looked good but they were in fact loose.
MarkC

[Cbjr]

Labswine,

When was the last time you disassembled the starter swtich and cleaned the contacts.

Also as far as ground and battery connections - checking and acutally cleaning them until they shine are two different animals. The latter being the key to a good connection. Don't forget to clean the frame ground under the seat and might as well clean the connections at the starter as well......just to get to a baseline.

[jbfan]

Had a similar problem with my bike. Took the start switch apart (not complicated) used a little steel wool (conductive) to clean all copper contacts on the slide plate and the switch base. gave it a good cleaning with contact cleaner and electrical lube. Started right up.
Also, check under the contact on the actual slide plate. It has a tiny spring that helps push it up so that it makes a connection without getting pushed back into the slide plate. Clean that spring as much as possible and maybe pry outward on the contact a little to help. That's what was wrong with mine, was that little contact on the slide plate.
Hope that helps.

[Labswine]

Originally Posted by Cbjr

Labswine,

When was the last time you disassembled the starter switch and cleaned the contacts.

Also as far as ground and battery connections - checking and actually cleaning them until they shine are two different animals. The latter being the key to a good connection. Don't forget to clean the frame ground under the seat and might as well clean the connections at the starter as well......just to get to a baseline.

Disassembly of the starter switch...never. Are we talking the switch on the bars, or the one where the key goes?

Battery connections...visually very shiny, and yes, tight. I'll look at the frame ground as well.

Cleaning bike, I've never washed it with soap and water...I just wax it and it's clean so other than the occasional downpour I've been caught in...

Now, I will get my Clymers out and see how to disassemble the starter switch to clean the contacts (if it's in there )

I'll also be looking at the starter relay with a volt meter. Anyone have an idea what the readings should be as far as resistance if it's ok?

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by Labswine

Disassembly of the starter switch...never. Are we talking the switch on the bars, or the one where the key goes?

Battery connections...visually very shiny, and yes, tight. I'll look at the frame ground as well.

Cleaning bike, I've never washed it with soap and water...I just wax it and it's clean so other than the occasional downpour I've been caught in...

Now, I will get my Clymers out and see how to disassemble the starter switch to clean the contacts (if it's in there )

I'll also be looking at the starter relay with a volt meter. Anyone have an idea what the readings should be as far as resistance if it's ok?

The one at the handle bars is the one they're taking about!
Now the one I was talking about was the key switch. Neither switch is as water proof as most people think they are.
MarkC

[ibron]

I had a similar expierance. Thought it was battery related and recharged, checked connections, etc. The "famous" connector between alternator and voltage regulstor was in process of melting, as was discovered to late. Voltage regulator and connector were replaced. Suggest checking it. From what is posted about this connector, may want to remove it and solder wires together as prevenative maintenance, even if it is good.

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by ibron

I had a similar expierance. Thought it was battery related and recharged, checked connections, etc. The "famous" connector between alternator and voltage regulstor was in process of melting, as was discovered to late. Voltage regulator and connector were replaced. Suggest checking it. From what is posted about this connector, may want to remove it and solder wires together as prevenative maintenance, even if it is good.

I'm thinking that the yellow connector your refering to and the problem with it is on the VT1100's and not on the 750's
MarkC