Help! wiring issue 550 maxim

Ive messed up some wire somewhere. It wont crank now. I made new battery cables for it this winter and when I hooked it up with a new battery, it cranked (no fuel in carbs yet so it didnt start). Then just all of a sudden, for some reason I tried it again and it wouldnt do anything. I have a wiring diagram on my computer and I cant seem to figure it out. I know that a couple people have owned this bike and they have messed with it. It has a generic starter soleniod.

I dont understand how the starter button and switch work. Sterter button just grounds out?

Ill add that I rode this bike for several months last year and it was quite reliable.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Check safety relays - clutch etc

 

if I recall correctly the starter grounds out on the handlebar. Take your control apart and clean the terminals. Once you take the control apart you'll understand that the button has to make a solid "touch" connection. I learned the noob way by accident - my start button was slightly fried/melted from when I tested wiring and therefore it wasn't making a connection on the back of the button.

Also, just throwing it out there: Is your battery fully charged?

 

Thanks guys, but I have already been through these. I have tested the starter button and engine run switch. Both work perfectly.

This bike is somewhat stripped down. The only safety switch left is the kickstand safety. No clutch, neutral, oil, etc. The ignition key is replaced by a toggle switch.

Battery is fully charged with new cables.

How can I test the starter soleniod?

 

Short the two big terminals; this will apply battery power directly to the starter, effectively bypassing the solenoid. ***You will get a shower of sparks***

Back to the heavily modified safety circuit: if the sidestand switch IS working, unless it "thinks" the bike is in neutral it will not allow the motor to even turn over. Unplug the SAFETY CUTOFF RELAY as a troubleshooting measure.

 

ok so I did get a shower of sparks. Maybe I didnt hold on long enough to get it to crank.

"Safety Cutoff Relay"??? whats that?

 

I assume along with the shower of sparks that the starter did in fact spin.

The safety circuit consists of the sidestand switch, a sidestand relay, the neutral switch, clutch switch and they all provide "input" to the safety cutoff relay which is the heart of the safety system.

When the system is fully functional, it will not allow the motor to spin unless the bike is in neutral; or if the sidestand is down and the bike NOT in neutral, the clutch must be pulled in.

"Slightly" or "partially" modifying the safety circuit can cause all sorts of interesting issues, as you're discovering.

The info contained in this http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=27543.html might help.

 

thanks for that link. When I get some time I will do some more in depth diagnosis.