Bike won't start

[Kendogg]

I could really use the community's help.  I have tried googling and have researched previous posts.  My Valkyrie won't start and it left me stuck at work a couple weeks ago.

When I turn the key, the bike gets power and lights turn on.  But when I press the start button, the starter does not engage.  When I press the button, the headlight does turn off.  This lead me to believe it was not the start switch.

I thought maybe it was the battery.  I took the battery to autozone to have it tested and they told me it was good and fully charged.

I then thought it was the starter.  I jumped the two connections on the starter relay and this caused the starter to turn over.  My understanding is this lets me know that the starter is probably good?

I ordered a new starter relay and this has made no difference.  I still have the same issue.  Bike gets power but no start when I de-press the start button. 

I am trying to start the bike while in neutral.  It doesn't seem to matter if I press the clutch in or not.  The kickstand is down and the kickstand light is on. 

The bike has not fallen over or been tilted over or anything. 

I really don't know what else I should check.  Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.  I would really hate to have to take it to a mechanic or dealership.

It really did not give me any symptoms prior to it not starting.  The only symptom I can say is the day I took it to work, it had a slight delay in starting that morning.  Meaning I pressed the start button and the starter did not engage as quickly as it normally would.  There was maybe a "1 mississippi" count and then it kicked on the starter. 

[Ricky-D]

You cannot rely on Autozone for an accurate analysis of your battery condition. Use a jumper along with your battery and see if that corrects the problem. It sounds like your battery is not performing well enough to start the engine.

***

[Kendogg]

I have one of those car battery jumpers.  The ones you see at Walmart that are an air compressor and battery jumper.  Should that be ok to try and jump with?

[Corndog]

You cannot rely on Autozone for an accurate analysis of your battery condition. Use a jumper along with your battery and see if that corrects the problem. It sounds like your battery is not performing well enough to start the engine.

***

If the bike turns over when the starter relay was jumped, it probably isn't the battery. I had a similar thing happen to me, but it ended up being the tip sensor was installed upside down... likely not the case here. I wonder if those sensors go bad though?

[Chrisj CMA]

Sounds like the starter button maintenance thing again.  Make sure the brass contact inside is free to move with spring tension before you put it back together

[Kendogg]

Sounds like the starter button maintenance thing again.  Make sure the brass contact inside is free to move with spring tension before you put it back together

But if it was the starter button, would the headlight turn off when I pressed the button?  I thought if the headlight turns off when the button is pressed, it usually means the button is good?

[..]

If you take the starter buton apart BE AWARE that there's a little spring inside that WILL boing into another dimension never to be found. So take it apart slowly!

[Chrisj CMA]

Sounds like the starter button maintenance thing again.  Make sure the brass contact inside is free to move with spring tension before you put it back together

But if it was the starter button, would the headlight turn off when I pressed the button?  I thought if the headlight turns off when the button is pressed, it usually means the button is good?

OK, well what happened when you jumped it to your car.  If it started then you have a bad battery, if not, do the starter button maintenance

[Daniel Meyer]

Sounds like the starter button maintenance thing again.  Make sure the brass contact inside is free to move with spring tension before you put it back together

But if it was the starter button, would the headlight turn off when I pressed the button?  I thought if the headlight turns off when the button is pressed, it usually means the button is good?

Because there's two separate contacts. Once disengages the headlight, the other engages the starter.

[Gryphon Rider]

Sounds like the starter button maintenance thing again.  Make sure the brass contact inside is free to move with spring tension before you put it back together

But if it was the starter button, would the headlight turn off when I pressed the button?  I thought if the headlight turns off when the button is pressed, it usually means the button is good?

The starter button does two things.  It interrupts the headlight circuit, and connects the starter circuit.  If the headlight contacts are clean and the starter contacts are contaminated, it would exhibit your symptoms.  Another thing to check is that the kill switch is in the run position.

Images from http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/starter.html:

[Daniel Meyer]

Also, is the neutral light on when you have it in neutral?

Also try it stand-up and clutch-in.

If in gear (or it doesn't "know" it's in neutral) it won't start with the stand down (clutch in or out), if it's in gear and stand-up, it won't start unless you depress the clutch (make sure clutch switch is making...you should be able to hear it click...and check the wires on it to see if plugged in).

All those to check, AND the starter switch. It is most likely culprit.

[Kendogg]

Any other suggestions? Anything else I can check?

I took apart the starter switch this weekend and cleaned the contacts.  They were a little dirty but overall looked to be in good condition.  I put it back together and it is still doing the same thing.  No start when you press it.  The headlight cuts off but the bike does not do anything starting wise. 

I also started the bike by jumping the contacts on the starter relay and it started up just fine.  This eliminates the battery.

I also tried starting is all kinds of way.  With the clutch pulled in, not pulled in.  Kick stand down, and kick stand up.  The kick stand light comes on when the kick stand is down and it turns off when the kick stand is up.  I also hear that clutch switch click when I pull in the clutch. 

Any thoughts on what I should check next? 

[Ricky-D]

If the engine starts you know all the safety switches are working properly. (clutch, kickstand etc) I think the next step would be to check continuity between the starter switch contacts at the switch and the starter relay behind the right side cover.

***

[..]

I've asked this wise ass question before.

Kill switch off?

[fantsybikr]

Any other suggestions? Anything else I can check?

I took apart the starter switch this weekend and cleaned the contacts.  They were a little dirty but overall looked to be in good condition.  I put it back together and it is still doing the same thing.  No start when you press it.  The headlight cuts off but the bike does not do anything starting wise. 

I also started the bike by jumping the contacts on the starter relay and it started up just fine.  This eliminates the battery.

I also tried starting is all kinds of way.  With the clutch pulled in, not pulled in.  Kick stand down, and kick stand up.  The kick stand light comes on when the kick stand is down and it turns off when the kick stand is up.  I also hear that clutch switch click when I pull in the clutch. 

Any thoughts on what I should check next? 

Kill switch needs cleaned my guess..

[Chrisj CMA]

Any other suggestions? Anything else I can check?

I took apart the starter switch this weekend and cleaned the contacts.  They were a little dirty but overall looked to be in good condition.  I put it back together and it is still doing the same thing.  No start when you press it.  The headlight cuts off but the bike does not do anything starting wise. 

I also started the bike by jumping the contacts on the starter relay and it started up just fine.  This eliminates the battery.

I also tried starting is all kinds of way.  With the clutch pulled in, not pulled in.  Kick stand down, and kick stand up.  The kick stand light comes on when the kick stand is down and it turns off when the kick stand is up.  I also hear that clutch switch click when I pull in the clutch. 

Any thoughts on what I should check next? 

U you cleaned the contacts (starter switch) but was it working properly or were the contacts kinda stuck in its groove?

[TWiesen]

Make sure your ground cable is making good contact and is tight.  I had the same thing happen to mine.  Cleaned the ground cable tightened it up and haven't had a problem since.

[Kendogg]

I just wanted to update everyone.

I was able to get the bike fixed.  The issues was in fact the starter switch.  I am not sure what exactly was wrong with it.  As I said before, when I opened it up, the contacts weren't even that dirty.  But because of the symptoms, my gut was telling me starter switch. 

I decided to buy a new starter switch assembly and give it a shot.  I figured even if that wasn't the issue, it didn't hurt to have an extra one laying around anyways.  After changing the assembly out, the bike fired right up when I hit the start button.

Thanks everyone for their suggestions and input.  I really appreciated them.

[..]

I just wanted to update everyone.

I was able to get the bike fixed.  The issues was in fact the starter switch.  I am not sure what exactly was wrong with it.  As I said before, when I opened it up, the contacts weren't even that dirty.  But because of the symptoms, my gut was telling me starter switch. 

I decided to buy a new starter switch assembly and give it a shot.  I figured even if that wasn't the issue, it didn't hurt to have an extra one laying around anyways.  After changing the assembly out, the bike fired right up when I hit the start button.

Thanks everyone for their suggestions and input.  I really appreciated them.

 

[Chrisj CMA]

I just wanted to update everyone.

I was able to get the bike fixed.  The issues was in fact the starter switch.  I am not sure what exactly was wrong with it.  As I said before, when I opened it up, the contacts weren't even that dirty.  But because of the symptoms, my gut was telling me starter switch.  

I decided to buy a new starter switch assembly and give it a shot.  I figured even if that wasn't the issue, it didn't hurt to have an extra one laying around anyways.  After changing the assembly out, the bike fired right up when I hit the start button.

Thanks everyone for their suggestions and input.  I really appreciated them.

Like I suggested earlier, you cleaned the contacts but it wasn't working right, this is common even in new switches.  if the new one stops working in couple months (like my new one did) then you will have to the same thing to it that you would have had to do the first one.  Free the contacts so they move up and down with the spring.

Check the one you replaced, I bet the contacts don't bounce up and down on that spring.