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So I washed it, just with a hose and a wash mitt in the end and now the bloody thing won't go. I was trying not to get water on the electrics or in any of the air sucking holes. The bike has never been a great starter.

Yesterday it was spinning over quickly but didn't fire up.

Today it just goes thunk when you press the button. One solid clunk from the starter solenoid and bog all else. Stuck a screwdriver across it and nothing happened.

All other electrics ok, fuel pump primes, fuses look good. Battery fully charged.

What am I bodging about with first?

Suspect the battery first, maybe connections to and from etc.

If you know All connections and the battery to be good that leaves little in the way of suspects...
Starter motor or soleniod, dont forget The Law of Sod applies, whatever can go wrong will go wrong at the worst possible time.
If it worked ok last time is no guarantee that it will work now when you need it.
If you need any more cheery advice then dont hesitate....

I'm going to go give it another prod, it did this once before and I never got to the root of it then. Suppose I'll just prod, clean, tighten and hope for intervention.

Well did it start or have the band of gay pirates pulled your pants down and left you with your pants down ?

fatboy wrote:Well did it start or have the band of gay pirates pulled your pants down and left you with your pants down ?

Nope not yet, it'll be a job for the weekend now seeing as I've got to do it in the back garden. Tried a spare battery then both batteries.

Swapped the solonoid on the off chance 'cause I had one in easy reach and achieved bog all but I noticed that the starter lead seems suspiciously floppy where it disappears into the frame, like I said, never been a great starter.

So next it'll be more plastics off, earths, check starter then on to cut offs.

Lets hope its just a floppy thing that needs a firm seeing to !

And we have a winner, connection to the starter motor finger tight and corroded to fuck. That sorted it started first prod. Time to put the better solonoid back on and put the clothes back on it.

I've found the earth from the battery to the engine where does the one from the engine to the frame go? Might as well check it while I'm on.

Good to hear it fired up !
Wiring diagram does not show a specific frame to earth, only an 'earth' icon on the starter motor.
Please note that all imformation is assumed as Im looking at an RSV wiring diagram, Ive had a sherry with the vicar and you cant sue me as Im a shape shifter

fatboy wrote:Good to hear it fired up !
Wiring diagram does not show a specific frame to earth, only an 'earth' icon on the starter motor.
Please note that all imformation is assumed as Im looking at an RSV wiring diagram, Ive had a sherry with the vicar and you cant sue me as Im a shape shifter

Missed your post, sorry. What I meant was there's an earth from the battery that bolts on to the left side of the engine. From the same bolt on the engine there's another wire that I assume bolts onto the frame somewhere. Just wondered where it goes.

Been for the MOT today and then petrol, bit of shopping etc, bike seems to be starting well now. Also the really odd misfire it always had at 2800 rpm has gone and I'm seeing more volts on the dash as it ticks over. Must have pleased the electric fairies or something.

Good job !
Just keep offering more sacrifices to the electric pixies, a few itinerant children buried in the garden will probably do it