Engine dies and won't start

[lightninglynn]

I need some help with my valkyrie just dieing and won't start. In the past few months I have experienced the bike dieing while idling and then it would start up. The other day it died while driving down the highway. I hit the starter button and nothing so I pulled over to the side of the road. The lights were on, turn signals working, horn working. It appeared as though I had power to everything but the ignition. After about a minute it decided to fire up and ran fine on the way home. Now the bike won't start. When I press the starter button the headlight will go out like it is supposed to do. I have temporarily bypassed the kill switch behind the headlight thinking it might be it, still no start. I have also checked the starter relay and all appears well there. I have checked to see if I am getting fire to the starter solenoid with a test light when I press the starter button, I am not. I don't know where to go from here, hopefully some of you guys will have some suggestions before going any further. Thanks for your helpl.
BTW this is a 97 standard with 110,000 miles on the clock. If that makes any difference.
I have also charged battery fully, checked fuseable link.

[R J]

Time to go to Shop Talk & look for the article on Starter Buttom Maintenance.

It needs cleaned up.......   & put back together.  

If I'm reading you correctly, you hit the starter and the starter DOES NOT turn over........   Is this what you are saying?  

However, that should not have any reason for it dying on the road.

[lightninglynn]

I just now got finished with the starter button maintenance. The contacts were very dirty, cleaned them up put back together and still getting the same results, the starter will not turn over and the headlight goes dim when starter button is pushed.

[Garland]

Maybe side stand switch?

[Ricky-D]

I just now got finished with the starter button maintenance. The contacts were very dirty, cleaned them up put back together and still getting the same results, the starter will not turn over and the headlight goes dim when starter button is pushed.

The headlight is supposed to go out.  Not dim!  Don't know exactly what you mean by "dim"

***

[fstsix]

Check your ground cables at Battery and engine points,Keep us posted.

[lightninglynn]

When I said dim it goes out completely. I  have checked all batery terminals ground and positive. Everything is good and tight. I have also visually checked all connector in the headlight assembly. I got it to fire up just a while ago by jumping the leads at the starter solenoid. Still not getting anything by the starter switch. Going to take tank off and start tracing wires.

[fstsix]

Could it be starter relay? My friends Gold wing 1500 trike did this to us few years back, Here is some insight. http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18706

[Valker]

When you did the starter button maintenance, did you 'pry' the contacts up just a bit? They get pressed down far enough to stop making contact. The dying may be a separate issue from the not starting.

[lightninglynn]

I did pry up the contacts in the starter switch. As fare as the relay I can jump at the relay terminals to make it start. I am jumping one of the little wires (don't know the color) but it looks yellow and red to the large terminal on the relay. It will start there so unless I am missing something that tells me the relay is ok.

[R J]

Pull the fuse in the starter relay and see if it looks like my old one.



If so, order this part from Honda Direct Line:



It is really for an older Gold Wing.

When you go to replace it, check the wires in your old one & move them accordingly.

I know the big red one has to be moved, but don't remember on the other one.

[lightninglynn]

I had a connection like that on my bike once before. I rewired with the parts you are showing there. Been there done that, it all looks good at the present time, tight connections and continuity checks out.