Triumphrat

EricMichael · 06-21-2005

Help! The Mistress (2000 Legend) won't start. Battery registers as fully loaded. Fuses are all good. When I press the start button I hear one click, then nothing. Any ideas? Loose connection in the wiring perhaps?
Thanks! Eric

triumphrider99 · 06-21-2005

Sounds like a connection problem to me to. Also if you have had this bike very long you might notice that the starter push button not making good contact (have torn apart lots of times and sandpapered the switch contacts. My other Triumph does the same thing. But I would start by cleaning all your connections first. Hope this helps ?

Tumbleweed · 06-22-2005

....and you've not touched the killswitch?

(been there....still embarrasing)

T'Weed

LITTLEJOHN · 06-22-2005

I am having a similar problem. Turn the key on, hit the start button, nothing happens. Turn the key off, turn the key back on, hit the button and it usually starts. Although last night it took four repititions of this to finally start. Is this the contacts under the start button or a starter relay somewhere? The bike is 3 years old with 18,000 miles and no problems before. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
John

SWare · 06-22-2005

Littlejohn
Is the bike completely dead as in no juice to anything?
If so check the connector to the fuse box.
I had some acid damage to mine and had to really clean it up before i could get reliable starting. If there is no obvious corrosion just unplug and reconnect it a few times.

Eric
When you press the starter button do the lights dim and/or the starter sound like it tries to engage at all?
If not then it is probably nothing bad/expensive like starter, sprag clutch, hydro lock (from leaving fuel tap on). If it just clicks lightly like a relay engaging but nothing else check your connections at the battery, starter, block ground (alternator bolt). Wouldn't hurt to verify good connections at the fuse block connector. If still no luck you may need to look at the starter switch.

stan

MickMaguire · 06-22-2005

A couple of thoughts:

Do either of these bikes start reliably with the clutch pulled in? If so investigate the clutch switch. If not it may well be the starter brushes or another electrical problems as already discussed.

LITTLEJOHN · 06-22-2005

Stan & Mick;
There is power to the headlight when the key is on, but when I push the switch there is no sound at all. No click, no nothing. So, I turn the key off, then turn it back on, and most of the time it will start. I will check all the connections and also the starter button as triumphrider99 suggested.
Thanks for the suggestions.
John

EricMichael · 06-24-2005

A fella in my riding group said the same thing sometimes happens on his Sprint. He suggested putting the bike in first gear and rolling the bike forward to bump the engine a bit. Presto - started right up and has been fine for the last couple of days. Any explanation?
Eric

j98sprint · 06-25-2005

Brushes and/or commutator in the starter motor.

j98

legend · 06-25-2005

I agree with Mick. I would check the clutch switch. I had the same thing happen. I just cleaned the switch and it's starting with no more problems. Apparently there was some road grime interfering with the switch.

good luck,

Mark