I never had a starting problem until last Friday (the 16th). My wife and I had just finished about an hour ride. I parked the bike and mowed the yard. We got
ready to go for another ride and the T wouldn't start. No clicking sound...nothing and the head light went very dim. I tried several times to start it but
no success. I thought the battery was dead so I put it on the battery tender overnight. Next morning the battery showed it was fully charged but the T still
wouldn't start. I went to the Honda dealership and bought a new Yuasa battery. They filled it and I took it home and put it on the charger overnight. Next
morning same thing happened...no go. What is going on? I had installed a Custom World lightbar on Saturday, the 10th, and rode all week (until the 16th) with
no starting problems. The lights never went dim when I started the bike. I had wired the lightbar through the headlight. Tonight I completely disconnected the
lightbar and it still wouldn't start. I put the new battery back on the charger for a couple of hours and tried to start it again but no go again. I've
read through some of the other threads about starting problems but not sure what to do next. Any ideas on what might be happening?
what gives...
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 ace1954 |
what gives... |
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HSATF Member
Posts: 29 05/19/08 11:56 PM |
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alan |
#1 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 199 05/20/08 2:40 AM |
Check your fuses. Check your grounding circuit from negative post, connection by connection. Wiring the light bar through the headlight is not a good idea as
you are drawing more current through the headlight wires than Honda designed for. I would wire any large current drawing items direct from the battery with its
own fuse and relay. Check all the wiring harnesses inch by inch looking for melted spots.... especially at bundles of connections. You may have overheated the
headlight wiring somewhere in a harness. Sometimes it takes a while to burn off insulation from a few wires in a bundle before a problem is obvious. At any
rate troubleshooting any problem using the "purchase and install parts" method is slow and expensive. Using your volt/amp meter check wiring for
cross continuity or shorting to ground. If you don't know what that means you need a real mechanic. Good luck.
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ace1954 |
finally started but... | #2 | ||
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HSATF Member
Posts: 29 05/20/08 7:09 AM |
I tried starting the T again this morning. This time the engine turned over but took a long time for it to start. I ran it for a few minutes, shut it off and
waited a couple of minutes and tried to restart...no go. I waited a few more minutes and tried again and it finally started after I applied thumb pressure to
one paticular point on the start button. I don't have a volt/amp meter. Could it be that the starter switch is going bad?
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Guns90 |
#3 | |||
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HSATF 2nd Officer
Posts: 470 05/20/08 9:06 AM
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Hi Ace, Just another two cents....
We've had a couple of T's that I know of reported in here that, for no appearant reason, simply wouldn't start after being shut off at a gas station or coming out after eating at a resteraunt, only breifly though, then started after no obvious fix. If I remember correctly, it turned out to be the kill switch both times. I'm not saying that that is the problem with yours....I'm just saying that I would be suspicious of the electrical switches. I have heard of other switches causing problems. I suggest that, if it does it again, turn on the key, and one at a time, turn off and on several times all switches, then try restarting,. Don't forget the neutral kill switch or the kickstand switch. Just trying to help. Hope this does.
Gary
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow!!! What A Ride!!!"
Last Edited By: Guns90 05/20/08 9:08 AM.
Edited 1 time.
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RIrider |
#4 | |||
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HSATF Member
Posts: 25 05/20/08 11:14 AM |
Do a search for starter switch and there was a post that shows you how to remove and clean switch. |
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tonythecarguy |
#5 | |||
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HSATF 1st Officer
Posts: 630 05/20/08 11:25 AM |
Rich did a nice write up last fall;
http://www.hondashadowacetourer.yuku.com/topic/7430 This is a good reminder, I'm gonna clean mine; I'm closing in on 30k, and according to Stoney I'm due. Tony |
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alan |
#6 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 199 05/20/08 7:04 PM |
Mark that spot on the button. These bikes are just full of "lawyer" switches ain't they?
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ace1954 |
thanks to all that replied.... | #7 | ||
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HSATF Member
Posts: 29 05/20/08 8:43 PM |
I read through the write-up...looks like something even I could do. Won't be able to do it until the weekend...working long days before the holiday. I
tried it again tonight after work. Wouldn't start until I hit the "sweet spot" so I'm convinced that's where the problem is. Thanks again
everyone for the insight into your vast knowledge.
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alepel |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 8239 05/21/08 7:16 AM
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ace1954 wrote: That's what this forum is all about. I regret that the search engine on Yuku can't be more refined. It produces the information you want but gives you a ton of 'hits'. Still this is better than no search engine at all.
alepel
"Ride with the Spirit always, and in all ways"....hombldr |
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alan |
#9 | |||
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HSATF Tail Gunner
Posts: 199 05/21/08 4:10 PM |
I'm glad it wasn't the light bar. Digging through wiring harnesses and fixing cooked wiring is no fun. I wouldn't think the T headlight wiring
would carry the current draw from the extra lights. Or I wouldn't trust it to is more like it.
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ace1954 |
No problems now... | #10 | ||
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HSATF Member
Posts: 29 05/27/08 11:27 PM |
I cleaned the starter switch on Saturday, the 24th, and have had no starting problems since then. We've been out on the bike 5-6 times and starting just
fine. Thanks again to all that offered suggestions. Now I just have to rewire the light bar...
Paul |
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