starter sylinoids are going like crazy

I am on my 3rd starter sylinoid. For some reason they are either going out or there is a problem with my ignition button. If I put jumper cables on the battery it turns just fine by pressing the button. Or if I jump the sylinoid (placing a key across the 2 posts on the sylinoid) it turns fine. So I am a bit confused. I am going to redoing ALL of the wiring and electrical, but if there are any ideas it would help me find areas of special attention when I do redo my electrical

 

pull your start switch assy'm ( handle bar control) apart to start with.

there may be a short there.

also check resistance through the entire starting circut.

but......if your going to replace the whole elec system, just start with that part first.

wires will often break in a place that can't easly be seen, like in a wire shroud.

i'm sorry for not having any better ideas but i'm just starting to
turn my attention to the elec dept. and i'm learning as i (we) go.lol

good luck, i'll be watching this to see how the experts respond

 

Any one new here should look at Gamuru's collection of posts.

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... holic.html

That should help sort things out. Also the solenoid can be opened up and cleaned.

 

Hahaha... Do you remember the first time you tried to open up a solenoid... (now that I am spelling it right) I would rather spend $30 for a new one than open up an old one. They are impossible with the tools I have.

 

Check your button. I had a couple of wires break on mine. If you jump the solenoid. They will be dead it doesn't take much. The only time you need to do that is if you are strnanded 150miles in the middle of nowhere.

 

You can use one of these instead of a solenoid:

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.as ... rm=KEYWORD

 

what will be dead? the solenoid?

my starter button is missing. So, i have been starting with a screwdriver(jumping the solenoid), but on rare occasions i can stick the key in the hole where the button is supposed be, and it will crank for a sec, but it cranks very weak, and it's not enough to kick the motor over. Since this is intermittent, i guessed there was more wrong than just a button. The PO had told me he had been starting the bike by jumping the post the whole time he had it. this would explain a lot.
The button broke, he started jumping the post, and blew the solenoid.
time to order a solenoid. any ideas on where to find or how to replace that button without buying the whole assembly?