Smell when using starter

[BuzzKill]

I have a 97 Tourer.  Was going home tonight and ran out of gas in the neighborhood.  Didnt get a chance to switch to reserve yet.  Switched it over after it died completely so it took a bit to start back up.  Problem is we could smell a strong burning smell, like mechanical or electrical, the more I used the starter.  It kept cranking and it eventually started back up.  Thoughts?

[Valkpilot]

The long crank after running out of gas is expected.  Takes a little time to develop vacuum and refill the carbs.

I'd check the starter relay and related wiring under the right side cover relative to the burning smell.

[Chrisj CMA]

Yep, sounds (smells) like a starter relay......if it burns up completely its a big fix,  too much heat there is generally caused by bad connections/corrosion.....clean lube with dilactic grease and check it every once in a while

[BuzzKill]

Clean and lube the relay or switch?

[R J]

Check under the right side cover in the big black boot to see if it looks like this:



If so, ya need to buy this little bugger from HDL.  It fits an older Goldwing, but it is cheaper than replacing the whole damn loom.



You have to move the RED wire to the current empty slot.   Then it will match the Valkyrie.

If it did look like that somewhere you have something added WITHOUT a relay firing it.   Lights, horn, you name it, some added accessory.

[Chrisj CMA]

Clean and lube the relay or switch?

the contacts where the big plug plugs in to the relay......or it will look like RJ's

[BuzzKill]

I did recently relocate my wolo horn from under the kickstand bolt to near its original position.  I coulda swore it was still ran though a relay though.  Will have to look more closely at it this weekend.

[BuzzKill]

Checked it out and only thing is there was some green corrosion looking stuff, like the stuff in the picture of the plug on the top left corner.  Not alot.  Cleaned it up some.  Haven't smelled it but I also haven't had to use the starter as much as last night.  No visual signs of any burning or melting on the plug or the relay itself.

Maybe she was just mad at me for letting her run out of gas before switching to reserve.

[YoungPUP]

Might have gotten lucky: corrosion = resistance = heat = funny burning smell......