Starting question

When I attempt to start the bike, either hot or cold, as soon as I touch the starter button the starter engages immediately. However, if the bike didn't start, or stalled and I push the starter button again there is a 3 to 5 second delay before the starter engages. Is this normal?

 

Hum, 3 to 5 seconds is a pretty long delay, doesn't sound like normal to me, no. NOne of my previous bikes has ever acted like that.

 

You know, my bike did the same thing. No idea why. But thinking about it now... that might of stopped when I installed a modern fuse box. Do you have the original fuse box on your bike?

 

Sounds like you still have the original, electro-mechanical solenoid.

 

Wirehairs-I replaced what was left of the old fuse box with the new atc-blade style.
Fitz...could be a possibility....how necessary is it to replace immediately?

thanks guys...

 

Considering you can always do the "screwdriver across the two big terminals" trick I guess that's up to you.

 

If the start button does not make a consistent contact, you would get this delay... Make sure it makes a solid connection to the copper contact when the button is pressed.

 

(It's the solenoid...)

 

I can't see why the button wouldn't make good contact ONLY when the engine deosn't start at first attempt...so to me it is not a button contact problem.

 

Bet me.

 

lol fitz,

 

bruce has it been in rain? could it be the starter button? i dont know,, just throwin it out there,

 

Disconnect the Battery.
Yank the Starter.
Mark the Planet-end, Motor-casing and Electrical-end for ease of refitting.

Undo the two Long Bolts.
Douche the Electrical-end with Isopropyl Alcohol.
Spray the stuff in the Housing.
Keep spraying the Electrical-end, Brushes and Commutator with Alcohol out-of-the-bottle ... until what drips-out is as clean as what you squirt-in!

 

The delay has been there since I got the bike. I have replaced the fuse box and the battery. If I go to start the bike it will turn over as soon as I push the button, then the delay starts on the second try. However if I turn the key off and then on, the starter button works immediately without delay. I tend to agree with Fitz, but will also do Ricks advice as the starter "hangs" a bit after a start every now and then, maybe 1 out of 20 times, and just for a few seconds.

 

Which is not to say that the starter couldn't use some TLC. But I'm still betting replacing the solenoid is what will ultimately fix it.