Need a Valkyrie mechanic North West Florida (Panama City)...Here we go AGAIN!!!

[Firedawg]

Anyone in the Panama City area that is independent and works on Valkyries? Just dump a bunch of money into my bike and it is not starting again... Just clicks.
Thanks
Craig

[Thunderbolt]

Craig when you say just clicks if you mean you press the starter button with the key on and you hear a click underneath the right side cover it could be your starter solenoid.  Our 98 did that.  We replaced it with one from a motorcycle salvage dealer named Pinwall Cycle.  Good as new again. 
Here is how you can test to see if that is the problem.  First take the right side cover off.  Turn the key on and make sure the bike is in neutral.  Press the starter button and see if the starter solenoid is what you hear clicking, it is just below the small row of fuses.  If it is clicking or operating then it could be defective.  What you are hearing when it clicks is the actuating side of the solenoid is basically an electromagnet and that section is working as it should.  The problem is that when it actuates it shorts two high current posts inside the solenoid and ties the battery to the starter and if that connection is burned inside the solenoid where it can no longer make the proper connection it will not turn the starter.  You can verify this in a couple of ways.  Easiest is to turn the key on and make sure the bike is in neutral and short across the two large wires on the solenoid.  What you are doing is the same thing as if you were to run a wire directly from your battery positive post to the starter hot lead.  This is only a temporary short and you don't want to leave it shorted, just long enough to crank the bike.  You can also test it using a voltmeter.  One wire should be +12V. all the time and the other only when the solenoid is activated while pressing the start button. 
If you are not certain that your battery is good, run some jumper cables from a non running vehicle and try to start the bike first.  Let us know how this works out and we can help you further.

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

You may also want to check the fuse under the Red Fuse Cover on the same  Solenoid Mentioned. It is a 30 amp fuse and It may be Blown or sometimes the Housing around the fuse gets Dry and Brittle from the Heat causing a bad connection or Blown fuse.

[pc shaun]

I use Ron's Kawasaki.  The mechanic there is great.  I think he used to be the mechanic for the Honda dealer before they were bought out by the current owners.  He knows the Valks.

[Firedawg]

Thanks everyone I have replaced the starter solenoid three times...there  is something else wrong. I have a short somewhere...

[Xtracho]

I second Ron's Kawasaki on 15th St. I wrench on my own bikes but he has helped previously on my '84 Goldwing. Wish I could help but I'm 5,000 miles south right now.

[Thunderbolt]

Without being there with test equipment and tools it will be difficult to do much more diagnosis.  Did you try tightening all the battery and ground cables both ends?  Are you sure about your battery's condition?  Hope you can get it resolved and let us know what is done to correct it for future reference please.  If the starter button is actuating the solenoid and the solenoid is working properly your engine might be hydrolocked.  I would pull all the spark plugs and take the bike outside and see if it will crank over.  If a cylinder is full of gasoline you might be lucky that it did not move the pistons as it usually breaks gears in the starter drive.  Wish I were closer this is getting interesting.  I'm sure not for you though.

[Firedawg]

hydrolocked???

When I have tried to start it I can see the started move, I had it rebuilt, it is trying to turn the engine over...what is Hydrolock and how do you fix it?

[Thunderbolt]

Hydrolock is when a cylinder fills with gasoline because of a leaking float valve in a carb.  The liquid sits in the cylinder on top of the piston and the starter motor trys to compress it and the result is broken parts.  That's why I mentioned taking the spark plugs out and trying to turn it over.  But be sure you are outside and not in your garage if you do that as if there is gasoline in a cylinder the engine will turn and push the gasoline out with a lot of force and spray it out the spark plug hole.  I hope that is not your problem, but just to be sure I would try it.  If it turns out that you do have that problem, there is a float sticking and possibly a petcock leak problem.  But eliminate it as a possibility.

[Firedawg]

I just took out the plugs and fuel went everywhere...mainly from the left side of the engine...put the plugs back in and it started right up...so I guess this means I need to replace the pet-rooster and possible carb problem???
 Thanks
Craig

[Firedawg]

What other problem may of the hydrolock caused?

[Thunderbolt]

You can count yourself as one of the few LUCKY people to have had hydrolock and did not damage the starter gears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Glad you figured it out.  A couple of things I would do if it were mine.  First I would not ride it or run it until I changed the oil as the fuel might have contaminated the oil and diluted it.   Which cylinder did the gasoline come out of?  The cylinders are 2,4,6 from front to back on the left sitting on the bike.  If it was the rear one it could just be your petcock needs to be rebuilt.  If it was the center one it could be a stuck float in #4.  Either way you should resolve the fuel problem as soon as you figure out where it is coming from.  Keep feeding information and we will try to help you get it going and permanently resolved.  No since paying the dealer to fix stuff that you can do yourself.  Those guys are up to nearly $100 an hour now.

[FloridaValkRyder]

Great job Terry diagnosing his problem from the board . Craig is a lucky man indeed.

[gwise]

Damn Terry YOU are the Man. Glad I know you. You saved him alot of money and hassle!!!! Good call.
  Gregg

[Thunderbolt]

Just lucky some times.  What was it that Red Green used to say at the end of all of his shows?  "If the women don't find you handsome, make sure they find you handy". I always liked that one.

[Firedawg]

Terry I owe you a beer or two
Craig