[bigrottenrottie]

I am a new owner of a 1983 Honda Shadow 750. This is my first bike that I've ever had so I have no experience repairing them either. So I got it home yesterday and had to jump start it because it had a dead battery. I know that it needs a new battery since this one won't hold a charge. I knew it when I bought the bike. So anyway, I jump started it, got it running and started riding. I went back out today to another dead battery. The difference is today when I hooked up the booster to the battery, the engine started cranking over. They key wasn't on or even in the ignition. I'm assuming that something is shorting out but I don't know where to start looking. I'm not sure if it is a cylinoid or what. Any ideas?

 

[bigrottenrottie]

It is not a problem with it not starting. The problem is that the starter kicks in as soon as the power is hooked up to the battery. With the key in my hand, the starter should not be turning the engine over.

 

[bigrottenrottie]

I have found out, doing research, that it is most likely a starter relay. From what I figured out, these have the 2 leads coming off of it that go up to the starter switch. When you push the button for the starter, it makes contact inside this relay. When these go out, it basically bypasses the starter switch, therefore, it acts as if the starter switch is pressed non-stop. I'm going to get a new battery and this relay and I should be back on the road.

 

[bigrottenrottie]

It's more likely the contact in the start button is the culprit. If it was the starter relay contact, the bike would be turning over with the key off. I would service your starter button after you replace the battery.

It does turn over with the key off...or better yet, the key in my hand before I even put it in the ignition.

 

[bigrottenrottie]

I ordered a different relay. It should be here in a few days.