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Wont Start
Just got back on a trip from Oklahoma to Louisiana, cold and raining. On the 3rd day of cold and wet the trike would not start. It seems that the starter motor spin but will not crank. Also if I put the trike in reverse the reverse light comes on but nothing happens when I push the starter button. I had to have the trike trailered back home.
Need any ideas of possibilities and where to start.
I have had no problems up till now, the starter that I replaced is a year old.
The first thing to check is the battery voltage 12.7 = fully charged
Clean and tighten all the connections first
A dirty and loose connection is a BIG voltage drop
You need at least 12 volts @ the starter to spin over the engine, the ignition system needs a minimum of 10.5 volts to operate
Check the connections @ the starter also
Sounds like your starter went South
Nuff Said," Were Burnin Daylight, Lets Ride"(Sober 37 years)
Current ride : 2021 FREEWHEELER M8, oldest ride 1960 FL
Start with the basics.
What is the condition of your battery? Is it charged? Are the terminals loose or corroded?
If the starter just spins and won't crank, And its spinning at a fast pace, No clicking...
My money would be on the starter motor being bad, .....A weak battery you will hear clicking....
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
Battery is like 2 years old connections are clean at battery, even tried using a jumper
Reading in the manual the reverse will not work with out the motor running DUH!!
I guess that is not an issue until I get the engine running again.
The starter you replaced , New or Rebuilt...Originally Posted by refuelman
I never had good luck with a rebuilt starter , In a car or a bike....
You can try this, Put the Trike in first gear, Cluch Engaged hit the starter, If the trike doesn't lurch forward , Its the starter...
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
If you jumper the starter and it does not crank the engine the drive is not engaging
Do you have any warranty on that starter?
Nuff Said," Were Burnin Daylight, Lets Ride"(Sober 37 years)
Current ride : 2021 FREEWHEELER M8, oldest ride 1960 FL
Did you actually check the battery output voltage in static and crank modes? I've seen batteries two months old do exactly what you are experiencing.
If you don't have a volt meter handy, you could also just jump the trike battery from a known good battery.
Jerry "Gold Rush" (aka: "SPOOK") San Angelo, TX
2015 GL1800/Roadsmith HTS1800
TOI - IBA #23804 (SS1K & BB1.5K)
I'm like an old race horse..... I can still run the race -- Just ache more at the finish line and need more rest between outings.
Does it have a clutch safety switch?The starter you replaced , New or Rebuilt...
You can try this, Put the Trike in first gear, Cluch Engaged hit the starter, If the trike doesn't lurch forward , Its the starter...
If it does it may not engage the starter in gear?
Nuff Said," Were Burnin Daylight, Lets Ride"(Sober 37 years)
Current ride : 2021 FREEWHEELER M8, oldest ride 1960 FL
Every bike [Two wheelers]except Harley, Victory....Don't know about Indian Thats ''Not'' made for export has the switch in the kickstand, Down kickstand no start in gear...
On Trike conversions Honda ETC....they are or should have been disabled...
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
If starter is spinning at all, this in NOT the problem.
Jerry "Gold Rush" (aka: "SPOOK") San Angelo, TX
2015 GL1800/Roadsmith HTS1800
TOI - IBA #23804 (SS1K & BB1.5K)
I'm like an old race horse..... I can still run the race -- Just ache more at the finish line and need more rest between outings.
Check the engine oil level. IF it’s low, the low oil cutoff switch could be keeping it from firing.
I know this may seem obvious, but did you check the kill switch? It may also be a bad kill switch and sometimes jiggling it will be enough to get the bike started.
The OP Says the starter is spinning.....So its not that....Maybe when he finds the problem he'll let us know...??
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
I don't know, but, does a Harley starter have a solenoid? If this was a car, I'd swear that was the problem. Sure sounds like the starter is not engaging.
I thought we were talking about a HONDA GL1800 here...
Jerry "Gold Rush" (aka: "SPOOK") San Angelo, TX
2015 GL1800/Roadsmith HTS1800
TOI - IBA #23804 (SS1K & BB1.5K)
I'm like an old race horse..... I can still run the race -- Just ache more at the finish line and need more rest between outings.
Most hondas have a sprague (sp?) clutch. When they gets gummed up or the oil is cold they won't engage. Happens on my bike all the time. Course mine has a little thing thats called a kick starter, comes in handy in those situations. I don't know what happened to goldwing greg. He would know.
I’m confused in the conversation , if the starter spins, and the motor don’t crank, the engaging bendix went south
2012 Triglide Piaggio MP3 500 to get groceries 1991 FLHS as back up
"Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it !"
Tiffany, Olive, Daisy, “The Three Musketeers” together again.
That would seem reasonable to me also...I’m confused in the conversation , if the starter spins, and the motor don’t crank, the engaging bendix went south
Sometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigar.....
2019 Tri-Glide.......
Ok, all good information. I have heard about the sprag(one way clutch). Reading on another form for Goldwing's it was suggested to remove spark plugs and push the bike in reverse/forward which would turn the engine and by chance would release and or unlock the one way clutch. Tired that with no luck. Will be going after the starter soon, to check for damage.
Again in neutral key on push the starter button and I hear a motor spinning noise, with the plugs out I put my thumb over one of the spark plug holes and no compression. So the engine is not turning.
Still open for any ideas.
Could the reverse cables be out of adjustment and or stuck causing this problem?
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