Triumphrat

geebee · 08-16-2004

When I push the starter button on my 99 Legend I get nada, zipo. The starter makes no sound whatsoever, not even a click. The battery has been taken out and replaced with one that starts my other bike (same battery size). All fuses are OK. It started great last time I rode it 2 weeks ago. Could it be the starter/kill switch button failed? Any suggestions before I take it to my dealer? Thanks! :???:

mecscc · 08-16-2004

Well, start with the obvious: the problem is electrical.

Check first to see it the headlight comes on, or the turn signals work, etc. to determine if it is a full power down or just in the starter circuit.

Then, be sure that the simplist things are done: That the kick stand is up, otherwise it won't start; that the kill switch is in the "on" position; that you haven't turned the key past the "on" position, the bike is in neutral, etc.

If no lights come on then you know it is the entire circuit and not a starter switch or kill switch problem. So you will need to check the battery connections carefully, if you know that the battery is sound. Could be you left something on after you last rode it and the battery is drained. (You say that the other battery starts your other bike, will the battery in the Legend start the other bike? If so, then the battery is not likely the problem.

And also check the main fuse, it may be blown. I know you checked it, but check it again. Sometimes they look pretty good but have a fine short in them. If you have another one, try it. If it is deferctive you can replace it, just remember that something caused it to blow and until that is found it could do it again.

If the lights come on and you suspect the kill switch or starter button are not making contact, first spray some electrical contact cleaner into the switch housing, loosen it first so you can get at the components. This is not likely, unless you have recently run the bike in a downpour or just washed it.

From there, you would have to start checking out the starter leads, and the starter relay.

Finally, you would have to check the main circuit of the wiring harness for shorts, corrosion, etc.

Now, keep in mind that this is likely something simple, maybe even embarrassingly obvious, so take it slow and do everything carefully.

The most likely culprits (even though you must doubt it at this point) are a dead battery or a blown fuse. If the lights come on brightly, etc. then those are NOT the problem. Just don't go tearing into stuff that isn't broke until you are really sure that you have eliminated the obvious.

Then, if you don't have a friend who is good at electrical problem ****hing, I guess you will have to get it to a shop and have them track it down. Only problem with that is that you have to pay for the time they spend trying to isolate the problem.

Let us know how it comes out.

Monte

tbsrider2000 · 08-16-2004

Do you know if your starter has been rather sluggish for a while?... Like you had a weak battery? Mine had these symptoms until, like yours, it just wouldn't turn over.

My problem ended up being the starter brushes..

geebee · 08-17-2004

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I am quite sure now the battery and fuses are not the source of the problem. Head lights, turn signals, horn work fine and the suspect battery easily started my other bike. I have also sprayed the starter/kill switch button with the electrical cleaner as suggested without any success. Prior to this event the starter did not show any signs of a problem. It turned over like new. I am not a skilled technician but I do have a volt meter. How do I check to see if I am getting current to the starter? Thanks for your help.

j98sprint · 08-17-2004

Hold the red lead from your volt meter on the cable where it connects to the starter (move the rubber boot out of the way). Hold the black lead to a good ground. Set the meter to DC voltage. While you're holding the leads and watching the meter have a friend hit the starter button with the ignition on. If you see 12 volts you'll know that the starter is getting juice. If not, the problem is upstream which would be the starter relay. That's the round thing that the big starter cable goes to.

Try that and get back to us.

j98

Jodel · 08-17-2004

What J98 said triggered a memory - one of the spade connectors to the soleniod was dislodged when I removed the gas tank of my TBird.

Since you've been in and removed the battery - the solenoid lives in the same general area - just check to see all the leads are still firmly attached.

Osara · 08-17-2004

Try playing with the clutch while starting. There's a switch behind the clutch lever that may have a bad contact preventing the starter to turn. I sometimes have that problem on my Tbird.

denny · 08-17-2004

On the sidestand saftey switch there is a little rubber boot. Sometimes that little rubber boot gets disloged and interferes with the proper operation of that switch. Well anyway that has happened to my TBS a couple of times. The first time that happened I was puzzled for several hours.

cheers,
Denny

geebee · 08-18-2004

Well guys, I've ran all the suggested checks and found that I am not getting any current to the starter. So it's got to a problem upstream from there but at least now I am better informed about the problem and can provide my findings to the service dealer. Thanks for everyone's valued suggestions and support.

mecscc · 08-18-2004

Let us know what it finally turns out to be. Could help someone else later on that encounters the same frustrations.

I can think of no bike problem more frustrating that an electrical short. Well, maybe an oil leak you can't figure out the source of; or maybe a stutter in the carbs that were just cleaned, synched,.................forget it.

Monte :-D