[jon_chew]

UPDATE -

i BUMP started it with my friend (dropped the clutch while moving), so it means mechanically we're good. the problem lies somewhere in the ignition switch even giving the signal to the starter solenoid.

the starter solenoid has two main wires,
- +12 V from the battery (which is good, we checked it)
- +12 V to the starter (which does NOT give +12 V to the starter, when we press the ignition button)

it also has a 2 plug connector that goes in, which we think is probably from the switch. we checked the continuity around these two plugs and nothing really changed much when the switch was pressed, which further confirms that it's an electrical problem near the ignition switch. i just don't understand how my switch worked an hour ago, and now it doesn't work?!!

Anyways, my lights and everything still go on, rear and turn signals, etc. the only other electric circuit problem is my horn, which doesn't work either!! so i'm thinking there's something in the whole circuit.

can you please tell me WHAT i shoudl troubleshoot next, and how? thanks!

____ ORIGINAL PROBLEM _____
Hi,

I've never had this problem, 85 ninja running fine. i road to school this morning, and parked it accidently leaving the kill switch in the run position. when i came back an hour later, i turned the key, all the lights came on, the battery voltage was good, but when i pressed the ignitino NOTHING. not even the click of the starter TRYING to run. checked all my fuses, but coudln't find anyting wrong.

I've tried searching the forums and couldn't find the info. But exactly how does a bike start? the ignition switch, to the starter, to the spark plugs, then the ignition right? what should i be looking for?

it seems either a loose connection SOMEWHERE ( i don't even know wher eit could be, does someone know where the starter on an 85 ninja is?) or the ignition switch is bad. But i started it ONE HOUR ago, and it was running just fine! could it be because i left the kill switch on the run (even though i turned off my bike? )

Well, i'm stuck here on campus until i can figure this out. thanks for any help!

Jon

 

[WILD FX]

Geezzuusss!!! Bump start it and go home ..Just dont stall it on the way ..

 

[rockshoxbiker]

it doesn't matter how you shut the bike off, key or kill switch, as long as the other things are in order.

Did you leave your bike in gear too? It probably needs to be in neutral to start the bike with the kickstand down.

Try making sure it's in neutral

 

[SkydiveSonic]

ignition on. kickstand up. neutral. clutch in. kill switch on run.

Are all the above true when you hit the start button?

 

[Jaybo]

try tapping the starter relay.

 

[TheRumpShaker]

exact same thing happened to me. Bike won't even turn over, even though it was fine five minutes ago and all electrical is working. Just wait about an hour or so and it will start. Do your carbs need cleaning? That is what they diagnosed and once done, it started fine.

 

[rockshoxbiker]

FINE BC
Fuel, ignition key turned on, neutral, engine kill switch, brake, clutch in,

or also check you fuses.

 

[jon_chew]

UPDATE -

i BUMP started it with my friend (dropped the clutch while moving), , so it means mechanically we're good. the problem lies somewhere in the ignition switch even giving the signal to the starter solenoid.

the starter solenoid has two main wires,
- +12 V from the battery (which is good, we checked it)
- +12 V to the starter (which does NOT give +12 V to the starter, when we press the ignition button)

it also has a 2 plug connector that goes in, which we think is probably from the switch. we checked the continuity around these two plugs and nothing really changed much when the switch was pressed, which further confirms that it's an electrical problem near the ignition switch. i just don't understand how my switch worked an hour ago, and now it doesn't work?!!

Anyways, my lights and everything still go on, rear and turn signals, etc. the only other electric circuit problem is my horn, which doesn't work either!! so i'm thinking there's something in the whole circuit.

can you please tell me WHAT i shoudl troubleshoot next, and how? thanks!

 

[BlackScorpion]

Try the simple stuff.
- New battery or charge your battery.
-Can you get to the wires that go to the starter button? Short them out and see if it cranks. Make sure your ignition key is on.
-Maybe your kill switch is broken in the "Kill" position. Play with those wires as well.
-There's probably other switches that could go faulty on you. Think about all the things that need to be done to start your bike normally, as there could be a switch related to it. Kickstand, clutch?, etc.

 

[Tiredfighter]

Sounds like a stator problem - yes I said stator not starter

 

[rockshoxbiker]

i still say check the fuses first. it's the simplest and cheapest. and IMO safer and easier than shorting wires to bypass any switches.


...one minute the porch light was on, then it doesn't work anymore. Lets check the bulb before tearing the whole house apart

 

[bluenote]

i still say check the fuses first. it's the simplest and cheapest. and IMO safer and easier than shorting wires to bypass any switches.


...one minute the porch light was on, then it doesn't work anymore. Lets check the bulb before tearing the whole house apart

agreed. especially *especially* if you're having to cut into them/harness/whatever.

Cory

 

[katana john]

Sounds like the battery.
To test try gump starting from your car.
If it spins up and fires, thats the problem.
Save yourself a lot of grief.....

 

[jon_chew]

1. my battery is fine (i have 12.4 V and it's a month old. Plus, it started fine when i bumpe started)
2. my fuses are good, i checked them over twice.
3. what is the "stator", and how can i troubelshoot it?

As i said, i have already checked all the basics and if you read my post you would see i BUMP STARTED it (NOT JUMPED with a car battery, but let it roll downhill then let the clutch out and rev the gas a bit)

does this not mean that fuses, battery, are all fine? Isn't it then in my electrical before the stator (since i checked the voltage there, and it doesn't change to +12 V when i press the ignition switch?)

 

[flipKawiguy]

I've never had this problem, 85 ninja running fine. i road to school this morning, and parked it accidently leaving the kill switch in the run position. when i came back an hour later, i turned the key, all the lights came on, the battery voltage was good, but when i pressed the ignitino NOTHING. not even the click of the starter TRYING to run. checked all my fuses, but coudln't find anyting wrong.

I've tried searching the forums and couldn't find the info. But exactly how does a bike start? the ignition switch, to the starter, to the spark plugs, then the ignition right? what should i be looking for?

it seems either a loose connection SOMEWHERE ( i don't even know wher eit could be, does someone know where the starter on an 85 ninja is?) or the ignition switch is bad. But i started it ONE HOUR ago, and it was running just fine! could it be because i left the kill switch on the run (even though i turned off my bike? )

i dont know but a similar case happened to me when i parked my bike one night and left the kill switch on run then the next mornin the bike wont start but i can hear the starter clickn,,so i jump start it and started...so when i got home from work(w/out problem left the kill switch off),did a little experiment and left the kill switch on run and sure enuf it wont start in the mornin....so my conclusion is somehow the kill switch when left on run drains the battery on my bike.....

my suggestion is charge up your battery,,yes also check for loose connections specially on your battery terminals.....and Dont leave your kill switch on run.....!!!!!

 

[TeeTee]

Nope, it's not the battery in this case.

It's likely in the long and complex routing of the power through a lot of switches. Before your starter can get power to the relay (or solenoid) it needs to pass through the key switch, often the on-off switch on the right pod, the starter push button, the kickstand switch and a fuse. Only THEN does it finally reach the solenoid where it can pull it in and fire off juice to the actual starter.

You can test your solenoid by jumpering a wire from the positive of the battery to the smaller screw terminal on the solenoid (not the grounded one please ) If the solenoid snaps in and the starter turns over you know the solenoid is good. From there you'll really need a wireing diagram so you can follow the colors and wires through the various switches. often the transmission neutral switch is also part of the path So you need to check for power before and after each switching point in turn until you find the one that isn't passing power.

Some of the sensor switches like the neutral switch or the kickstand switch run to the ECU as do the other power paths that eventually feed the starter solenoid.

So... what you really need is a voltmeter and a wiring diagram and a sunny afternoon to play with it. There's no easy one stop fix I'm afraid. But check the starter fuse first if there is a separate one. And then check that the solenoid is NOT recieving power. If you have power when you push the button then there IS something wrong with the solenoid. But if the solenoid isn't getting any power as I suspect then it's in one of the switch contacts or in a badly corroded plug. Or it may be a broken connection due to pulling or vibration. There's lots of connectors that this signal passes through on it's way from the battery to the solenoid.