Starting Problem Developed

[easy_rider]

I came out as usual yesterday morning for work turned on the ignition pressed the start button NO TURNOVER at all. Pressed again and it fired up.

Then this morning same again except this time she didnt start so had to borrow the wifes car she was not amused :razz:

Anyway came home tonight and put the key in pressed the button and she fired up......Scratching head i took of the start button and cleaned the contacts it fired again and again and again then one hour later thought i would check again nothing.

Has anyone experienced this problem before on the trident ?? I have cleaned everything obvious ie starter motor connection switch and side stand plunger one minute she fires the next not......I might add the ignition lights always come on.
Any help on this appreciated.

easy

[pendraig]

When it won't fire, try it with the clutch lever pulled in. If it's the neutral safety-switch, the clutch switch will over-ride it.

[pendraig]

Hi again;
If, when it won't turn over, you pull in the clutch and that doesn't work, I would place the bike in such a manner that you can see the headlamp (either reflecting from some object, or get your wife or a friend to push the starter while you stand out in front. If the starter is getting "juice", it will draw enough amps to dim the headlight. If it doesn't dim when the button is pressed, I would investigate the contacts and safety-switches again (and the starter relay). If it does, then suspect the starter, battery or (heaven forfend), the engine.
Breaking out the multi-meter and checking how many amps are being drawn would be more accurate, but I always try thr headlight test first.

[RacingGreen]

Welcome Easy -Rider.
Also check the side-stand switch. By habit I spray mine with WD40 once in a while. I've had too many non-starts and/or engine cutouts because of this.
Good luck. RG

[easy_rider]

Thanks for all your comments, Disconnected the side stand cleaned every corroded connection cleaned the switch checked the wiring cleaned the starter solenoid and the***** workedfine for 4 days last week then on friday NOTHING again came home from work and it started NO PROBLEM and all weekend its been fine. I just dont know when this is going to happen its very frustrating.


easy

Hi Easy rider,

Join the club of never quite being certain why they sometimes do and sometimes don't.

Had a similar problem on a Trophy I serviced recently and it was the safety switch on the clutch, just loose.

Not absolutely certain but I believe there are different combinations of safety switches. The earliest ones may differ from the mid-nineties bikes.

On some its easier to work out than others.

If its the clutch switch then nothing happens, if its the prop stand it turns but does not fire. Not sure if the neutral light switch has any effect or not so long as the clutch is in.

[div2]

My 1996 S3 will crank but not fire if the sidestand is down and the neutral light is not illuminated. In my case, the neutral switch is a bit dodgy(sometimes not indicating neutral even when the bike IS in neutral). I recently spent an hour fooling with the blasted thing before I finally figured out what the problem was...

[pendraig]

Hi Easy (et al)!
Last week mine (a'96 Sprint) started acting up, too. The neutral switch has been fritzing-out for a couple of years, so I just pull it the clutch as a matter of habit. Then last Friday that quit working as well. I was sitting in front of my local pub which was very bad as the Sprint would very quickly pick up a reputation for being one of "those kind" of bikes, and me as a guy who rides one.
Anyhow, the clutch is hydraulic, so I did the same thing that you do to the brakes when the pedal suddenly goes to the floor. I pumped the lever vigorously, and voila! the starter worked! I rode home and opened the clutch reservoir. Yuch! The fluid looked all black and nasty. I looked at my service notes, and I guess that maybe I hadn't actually looked in there for around 18 months. Looking in the little window on the side doesn't give one an accurate idea of the condtion of the fluid. Anyhow, I emptied the reservoir with a hypodermic syringe and then flushed and refilled the whole system. It works first time every time now (I think).
Bill

[TrumpetSprint]

Had a similar problem with my Sprint Sports. Sometimes fire up sometimes not. Opened up the starter switch and cleaned, no real difference.
I decided to try a home remedy. I purchased the shortest #6 BRASS machine screw I could find, cut and filed it down until it was a little longer than the point located at the push button of the starter switch. I replaced the the push button point with the brass screw and put everything back together.
It's been about 4 or 5 months of daily startups without a problem.
Kind of Mickey Mouse but it works. The brass screw completes the connection for the starter switch and with it a little longer, you aren't worrying about whether or not their making contact.

[easy_rider]

Thanks all for your suggestions.....Did all the stuff suggested except for the last one the Brass Screw sounds logical cos i did think about some form of packing below the spring when i took it apart to clean it, The beast has been starting first time all week since my last post so if it happens again the brass screw idea will be my next op.

Thanks again guys.

Easy