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Do I need to get a new starter?

1.9K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  Troy Jollimore  
#1 ·
so I road my bike down the road the other day and when I cane to a stop it the bike shut off (no bogging or cutting out) just shut off. I tried to start the bike back up and there’s no crank at all not even a click. I opened up my starter button on my handle bars and the connections are fine up there. I tested the starter solenoid and that’s fine. So my next guess would be my starter?? My battery is fine and I already tried to jump the bike but still nothing.
 
#5 ·
Put a jumper cable from another battery directly to the starter main terminal, and ground the negative jumper cable to the frame and see if it will spin over.
 
#12 ·
I've had that happen from dirty cable connections to the battery.
Always best to take them completely off, check, clean, dielectric grease :)

I'd try a push start...if it won't go then, start checking Kill Switch connections.

If you have and know how to use a multimeter, it's faster to check everything with.
If you don't, try and find an old retired military guy in the neighborhood that does ;)
 
#13 ·
Yeah it sure helps to know what model it is.
The early 700-750 had a small black plastic box next to the battery with a flunky thin metal strip as the main fuse. I cut it out and put in an in-line fuse holder on mine.
 

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#14 ·
Check the kickstand shut off sensor if you have one. The handbar killswitch and starter may look good but the contacts im the switch can go bad or wear down causing it to think its on amd no start. I would hook it up to a battery tender and after an hour, while in neutral, give it a try. Then test other components from there.
 
#15 ·
No kickstand switch on the 1985s.
Scary thing about the thought of an engine just stopping and not able to crank is a seized engine. Hope it is not that but is there enough oil in it?
But maybe a bad charging system and the battery died.
 
#16 ·
Is there power to lights?
First thing I ck, because it happened on the 86 VT1100, is the infamous plastic conector for the 3 wires that come from the stator -- where they clip into the main harness.
Location varies but somewhere between the stator side of the engine and the battery
Many suffer melting of the plastic and all power flow stops.
Or metal tabs get loose or crudded and power flow stops

Find that part, unplug and examine carefully
If wires are damaged, burnt, you can cut out bad sections and solder in new wire segment.
The connector is not needed, if you ever have to replace the stator, just cut the wire.
Same plastic part was used on several decades of Honda 2, 3 and 4 wheels
Other makes use it to!
Honda parts desk calls the replacement plug with wires you solder in, the Goldwing Update kit.
Again, you can keep that money and buy a short roll of the correct wire at lowes or home depot type store

Take in a piece you cut to match
Or
Does anyone here know the right guage and type to ask for?

Sidenot, honda acura and others use same part for the cabin fan, the heater/ac fan.
If you get mystery burning smell or fan acts weird or stops, look at the power connector to the fan/blower