Odd no start problem

[ETC]

OK this is a question one of my customers asked and I thought what better place than here to search for an answer.

So here is the problem. His 97 Valk will start OK but not while the start button is depressed. It starts as soon as he releases the button. Now mine does this with a weak battery also however on his when the bike is running if he hits the start button the engine dies. Even with an almost dead battery mine does not act that way. So I am guessing the coils are placed in a separate circuit when the button is pushed which bypasses the resistor circuit ?

[signart]

More than likely the starter button/switch needs disassembled and cleaned.

[JimC]

My money is on the battery. If the switch was acting up, most times it is all or nothing, the fact that it is turning over makes me think it is working OK.

Put a known good battery in there, or jump it from a good battery pack and see what it does.
It is easier to do that than take apart the switch.

Jim

[Chrisj CMA]

Not an electrical genius here (quite the opposite) but how does the solenoid behind the right side cover look?

[Gryphon Rider]

I suspect a weak battery, even if this hasn't been an issue for you when your battery was weak.  Pushing the start button will send power to the starter, even with the engine already running.  That current draw might be enough to starve the ignition of the voltage it needs to keep spark from happening.  I'm curious to know if turning on another high-current load, like auxiliary lights or a more-powerful aftermarket horn, will also stall the engine.

[sandy]

Step1; The starter contacts carry the ignition too. So if the starter is pressed while running, the contacts are dirty. Clean the contacts first.
Step2: Have the battery tested on a load tester. One is free; Two costs money.

[Harryc]

Step1; The starter contacts carry the ignition too. So if the starter is pressed while running, the contacts are dirty. Clean the contacts first.
Step2: Have the battery tested on a load tester. One is free; Two costs money.

Agree. Dirty starter switch contacts are most likely the issue.

[Bigwolf]

The start switch may or may not need some cleaning and repair.  However, I don’t believe that is the problem.

I suspect a weak battery or even more likely, a weak connection between the battery and the frame/engine.  The first thing that I would check is the voltage between the positive battery post and the frame when pushing the start button.  Then I would make the same test between the positive battery post and the engine block.  If the voltage dips below 10.5, the ECM will not trigger the ignition.  If the voltage stays above 11 across the battery posts when pressing the start button but drops significantly when making the tests described above, then you have a bad connection and just need to pull both battery cables at both ends and clean and reset them.  There are other things it could be but I would start with these tests.