2023 Quarterly StarBike Photo Challenge - Spring! Is Now Open For Entries!

Starting Problem on vstar classic

34451 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by malchow360, Apr 13, 2022

firestoned

Discussion Starter · Oct 30, 2009

Hello everybody, great to join this forum, looks like alot of great info!!

I'm relatively new to the bike scene, and have a problem that I cant figure out...

My bike wont start, when I push the start button, the starter relay makes a buzzing sound, and thats it. I ordered a new starter relay, installed it, and it is still making the same buzz, it wont start, the starter itself does not turn over at all. Push starting works fine. Whats the deal??

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance..

Save

1 - 12 of 12 Posts

firestoned

Discussion Starter · #2 · Oct 31, 2009 (Edited)

Update:

I checked voltage to the battery, it reads 12.58
I checked voltage after I press the start button, it only drops to 11.7.
I jumped the 2 posts on the starter relay to see if the starter would turn, and a very little spark happens, and thats it. No power to the starter.
I unhooked the starter wire, and put + to the starter, nothing
I checked the connections at both the battery, and the relay, and the ground, they are all tight

this is where i get confused..

If I push the starter button with the bike in neutral, and the clutch left alone, and the kickstand up, it makes the buzzing noise.. if I pull the clutch in, leave the kickstand up, and push the starter button, the headlight goes out, and the bike does NOT buzz, it just "clicks".. if I put the kickstand down, the starter relay buzzes wether the clutch is in or not.

I've replaced the starter cutoff switch, and the starter relay. The starter cutoff switch was from a Yamaha dealer, but the starter relay was from a junk'd bike at a salvage yard.

Wheres the guru that knows about all this stuff? Please help

See less See more

Save

linerdave

· #3 · Oct 31, 2009

Battery

I am not clear on this but I think you have a low battery. The starter is not engaging but the battery is dropping to 11.7 volts with not much load. The buzzing and clicking could be the starter trying to pick up but dropping back out when battery voltage drops. Wonder what your battery voltage is when the head light is out? It would seem if you did put +12 volts on the starter it should have turned.

Dave

Save

firestoned

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 31, 2009

voltage was 12.5 when I jumped the starter relay, that should be more than enough to turn the starter. Im starting to think that its the starter itself, but I have a trickle charger on it and will see what happens tomorrow. If the volts are high enough to turn the starter, and it doesnt turn, then it would logically be the starter, right?

Save

graystar

· #5 · Oct 31, 2009

firestoned, are you sure your started drive gear is not locked up? can you turn the engine over by hand? you may not have an electrical problem but a mechanical one. something may be locked up or binding.

Save

linerdave

· #6 · Nov 1, 2009 (Edited)

Starter

The starter is very expensive, and we don't hear of one going bad very often. Be sure before you buy one. If you back it up a little does it try to turn when you give it power? Graystar may have a good point.

If ony one else has some hands on expereance here help us out.

Firestoned check the next post here. In June another member had starter trouble. It turned out to be the ground cable from the battery to the engine block. He jumped using another battery posative and negative, it started. Check both battery and starter grounds.

Dave

Save

graystar

· #7 · Nov 1, 2009

linerdave said:
The starter is very expensive, and we don't hear of one going bad very often. Be sure before you buy one. If you back it up a little does it try to turn when you give it power? Graystar may have a good point.

no need to buy a starter. take the old one out, put it on the ground. take a set of jumper cables, put the red or pos end of one to a hot battery (like your car) the other end (red) to pos terminal on your started (big post). clamp neg end (black) to your hot battery first, then take the other end (black) and touch it to the body of the starter (ground it). your starter gear should fully engage when you make contact and disengage when you break the connection. put you foot on the starter when you ground it out or put it in a vise if you have one big enough, so that it won't jump away or spin around.

Save

firestoned

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 1, 2009

UPDATE:
Ok, so after taking off the starter and verifying that it still works, I thought I'd try to jump the ground wire again... jumped it going from the negative on the battery to the front fork bolt, pushed the starter button, and it fired right up... AAARRRGGGH!! Why it didnt do it when I tried it last time, I have no idea.. Tried it multiple times, and it starts every time. Looks like Im ordering the Maxair Flamewires. Has anybody used these to replace the stock wires?
http://www.maxairengineering.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MAX-1100-CABLE

thanks for the advice and help, I'll update again once my wires show up.

Save

Pluto 5

· #9 · Aug 6, 2021

firestoned said:
Hello everybody, great to join this forum, looks like alot of great info!!

I'm relatively new to the bike scene, and have a problem that I cant figure out...

My bike wont start, when I push the start button, the starter relay makes a buzzing sound, and thats it. I ordered a new starter relay, installed it, and it is still making the same buzz, it wont start, the starter itself does not turn over at all. Push starting works fine. Whats the deal??

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance..

Hay did you get your bike fixed? I have the same bike and same problem have been a automotive mechanic for 40yrs first I checked the battery it was bad but already 2yrs old replaced and still has the same issue so next checked starter solenoid jumped from batt + on solenoid to batt - at solenoid fired
Right up so replaced solenoid but still same issue started getting upset just so you know I had maintenance work done 2 days before this and never had a problem with it before that valve adjustment oil change plugs and front brakes so pushed it to start it started right up took back to shop big shop the service manager came out and took some pictures of bike and checked it in then turned key on hot start button and it fired right up on the way there 5 gear on highway started to die out dropped down a gear smithed right out called his mane guy over tried to start up no go and thay both told me it was bad ad starter clutch and is about 5 hr job and about 700 dollars to fix told them t check the ground got home and called them and told them starter clutch was not the problem but they wanted to argue so went back three days later to get bike bike started right up haha half way home bike dies and won’t start any more so went to auto parts store and bought thick wire has to be the same or close to the battery ground and a couple eyelets and made a new ground put it on from battery ground and frame bike started right up and never had another problem with it again I know this is long but need to be said don’t trust everyone and believe you’re instinct hope this helps because I have read hundreds of posts from people with v stare 1100 1300 650 all with same problem and the fix is always the ground wire now there is always the chance it could be the battery or starter solenoid but just beware

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 1

paigeshubby15

· #10 · Mar 11, 2022

Pluto 5 said:
Hay did you get your bike fixed? I have the same bike and same problem have been a automotive mechanic for 40yrs first I checked the battery it was bad but already 2yrs old replaced and still has the same issue so next checked starter solenoid jumped from batt + on solenoid to batt - at solenoid fired
Right up so replaced solenoid but still same issue started getting upset just so you know I had maintenance work done 2 days before this and never had a problem with it before that valve adjustment oil change plugs and front brakes so pushed it to start it started right up took back to shop big shop the service manager came out and took some pictures of bike and checked it in then turned key on hot start button and it fired right up on the way there 5 gear on highway started to die out dropped down a gear smithed right out called his mane guy over tried to start up no go and thay both told me it was bad ad starter clutch and is about 5 hr job and about 700 dollars to fix told them t check the ground got home and called them and told them starter clutch was not the problem but they wanted to argue so went back three days later to get bike bike started right up haha half way home bike dies and won’t start any more so went to auto parts store and bought thick wire has to be the same or close to the battery ground and a couple eyelets and made a new ground put it on from battery ground and frame bike started right up and never had another problem with it again I know this is long but need to be said don’t trust everyone and believe you’re instinct hope this helps because I have read hundreds of posts from people with v stare 1100 1300 650 all with same problem and the fix is always the ground wire now there is always the chance it could be the battery or starter solenoid but just beware

When you tried cranking it did It just make a buzzing noise

Save

malchow360

· #11 · Apr 13, 2022

Pluto 5 said:
Hay did you get your bike fixed? I have the same bike and same problem have been a automotive mechanic for 40yrs first I checked the battery it was bad but already 2yrs old replaced and still has the same issue so next checked starter solenoid jumped from batt + on solenoid to batt - at solenoid fired
Right up so replaced solenoid but still same issue started getting upset just so you know I had maintenance work done 2 days before this and never had a problem with it before that valve adjustment oil change plugs and front brakes so pushed it to start it started right up took back to shop big shop the service manager came out and took some pictures of bike and checked it in then turned key on hot start button and it fired right up on the way there 5 gear on highway started to die out dropped down a gear smithed right out called his mane guy over tried to start up no go and thay both told me it was bad ad starter clutch and is about 5 hr job and about 700 dollars to fix told them t check the ground got home and called them and told them starter clutch was not the problem but they wanted to argue so went back three days later to get bike bike started right up haha half way home bike dies and won’t start any more so went to auto parts store and bought thick wire has to be the same or close to the battery ground and a couple eyelets and made a new ground put it on from battery ground and frame bike started right up and never had another problem with it again I know this is long but need to be said don’t trust everyone and believe you’re instinct hope this helps because I have read hundreds of posts from people with v stare 1100 1300 650 all with same problem and the fix is always the ground wire now there is always the chance it could be the battery or starter solenoid but just beware
[/QUOTE

Save

malchow360

· #12 · Apr 13, 2022

Man that's exactly what I think is wrong My heart keeps telling me as well.. you said shop told me it was start a clutch too and that wasn't the issue and after 8:50 spent they wanted another 1,200 saying that was a problem so I decided to jump it from my hot to my starter until it finally gave out which was a starter so I replaced that starter relay. And the battery is hot the battery is fully charged there's something else and what your issue was sounds exactly what the problem is

Save

1 - 12 of 12 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month