Starter Relay Inspection

[Rio Wil]

I seem to remember someone stating they had opened the starter relay and cleaned the contacts.....for the life of me, I can't figure out how to that that thing apart with out destroying it...any hints???????

[gordonv]

I don't recall that.

Most likely it was the starter switch that was what was cleaned.

[sandy]

The relay unplugs and exposes the contacts. Clean and lube them with a dielectric. I did it several years ago and have had no trouble.

[Gryphon Rider]

You are getting your terminology mixed up.  Some contacts are inside the relay where you can't get to them, and in the starter switch on the handlebar, where you can get to them if you take the switch apart.  Contacts are what come together and come apart to make or interrupt current in the electrical circuit.  The terminals are what allow wires or other electrical devices to be fastened to an electrical device.

[Rio Wil]

Come on guys, so, did I hallucinate about someone opening the relay for inspection????????

[RonW]

Starter relays only cost $11 new on Amazon or Ebay (free shipping), so why would you bother trying to repair it?

[Rio Wil]

uummmm....aaahhhhhh, the curiosity of an inquiring mind...

[pago cruiser]

Caveat Emptor those ebay starter relays.  I have been through several in very short periods of time - days, weeks, months on other Jap bikes.  The Honda relay is about $30; and should prolly last another 15 years. 

Also, some of the clones have a different wiring configuration, which means you have to pull and re-insert some of the spade connectors inside the plastic housing on your harness.  Easy peasy (most of the time) if you have the special little tool - sometimes a pita. 

While free shipping with some of the cheapo stuff is great, who wants to be shipped a free turd?  YMMV, of course.

[Rio Wil]

Actually, my interest is comparing the internal construction of a cheap ebay relay with the oem Honda.  The oem lasted 12 years and the ebay lasted about 6 months and is intermittent. I tweaked up the start button switch and believe it to be reliable......I am sure I will get a opportunity to measure the voltage drop across the ebay relay contacts one of these days. I did have to short the big terminals on the relay with a quarter to start it a few days ago......wasn't an opportune time to look at anything else. .......anyway, am curious as to the characteristics of the relay contacts.....

[pago cruiser]

"Actually, my interest is comparing the internal construction of a cheap ebay relay with the oem Honda."

The actual failure mechanism would be good info to know.  I have never pulled one apart, as usually too intent on just solving the problem and moving on.  I would assume (based upon past experiences with things like distributor points - anybody remember those?) it is in the metal that that creates the contacts.  Import points (cheapo) sets used to require filing on a regular basis. I have had to file points and set with a match by the side of the road more than a few times; a long time ago...  

[Skinhead]

Stay away from eBay starter relays.   They are Chinese junk.