Triumphrat

jjswetnam

More than half the time when I go to start my bike, the starter clicks, but won't turn over.

I'll wait... push it a couple times... hold it down for a second... and VROOM! She starts right up.

So far, she's always started after a few tries, but I'm wondering what the issue is. There's nothing worse than hopping on your bike, winking at the cute girl beside you, then pressing the starter button only to hear clicks. It doesn't quite have the dramatic impact that I'm going for. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

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sjalex

Sounds like a bad starter. if it's clicking, that indicates the starter solenoid is OK. Check the wires between the solenoid and the starter to make sure they are not the problem (going from car knowledge here so i can't tell you where any of this stuff is on the bonnie).

Geoff

After careful consideration, I'd say, hit the starter first. if it goes vroom, then wink.
G

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DrewDesign007

LOL - that's funny.

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Skyblue62

I'd go for the starter switch, then battery, then starter relay.

'Fancy giving me a push' doesn't have quite the same effect as 'Vroom'

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Ian

RonD

i know this is simple but maybe your battery is not fully charged, with a battery they can show 12 volts on your meter ,but still not have enough grunt to turn your engine over the way they should ,(i would make shure also that your teminals are clean)this may well be starter problems, but nine times out of ten its simply a battery on the way out or a dirty terminal..

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ErwinM

couple of guys had the starter solenoid crap out on them,with the same description as yours. When it clicked as you say, they were able to jump the solenoid contacts with a coin to get um going

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Erwin

Baltobonneville

If you're on your original 2002 battery, you might as well replace it and see if that resolves it. You'll need a new one soon anyway.

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Marty
2005 Bonneville Blue 790cc, AI removed, Staintunes, Unifilter, no snorkel, 120/40/Thrux needle/1 shim/3 turns, fly screen, tacho, D9 gauge panel, center stand, Ikon 7610s, Hagon fork springs, gaiters, Pirelli Sport Demons, 3 seats.

CommandoRdster

I agree with Ron & Balto.The battery is the first place to start looking,and the most likely culprit.Especially if the solenoid clicks repeatedly while the button is held down.That means there is not enough juice getting down to the starter/solenoid.Like Ron said,check the cables for corrosion.Even a little bit is enough to cause too much resistance in the circuit. Make sure there is no corrosion creeping up the cable under the insulation.Electricity travels up the outside of the cables,under the insulation,not the inside,so any corrosion can stop it dead.

However,if the solenoid only clicks once for every time you push the button,and repeated pushes will eventually get it to crank,that is usually a sign that there is bad contact between the contact ring on the starter armature,and the brushes.Every time you push the button,it moves the armature a tiny bit,until it moves to a good spot on the contact ring,and vrooom! Eventually,the "dead spot"will get big enough,and that won't work any more. I usually only see this on pretty high mileage vehicles,though.

Start with the easy stuff. Strong battery,clean cables,and go from there.


Cheers!
Bruce

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driss

mine was on a 2001 , pulled the switch apart on the handle bars and cleaned the contacts on the starter button , that fixed it .