starter button still engages starter

[matt]

hello As I wont be riding bike for alittle while I figured I best put something in the gas  so I had bike running of kickstand accidently hit starter button and starter engaged. I know that is not supposed to happen I have not had starter switch apart but before I tear switch apart was wondering if any one else experianced this before. I did do headlight mod last year and put relay in for cobra light bar and switch worked fine then just flashed headlight..   Be Good Matt

[Red Diamond]

If your bike is running while on the kickstand and you accidentally hit the starter button, it will not engage, but will spin the starter. That is not a good thing to do, but it can happen and will happen every time you hit the starter button. The bike is in neutral, has nothing to do with the starter button.

[RonW]

Your confusion er trepidation may stem from the fact that people still call the starter-relay a "solenoid." The starter-relay does not push out (actuate) the starter-motor gear to mesh with the engine gear, then retract back when you release the start button. The starter-motor gear is stationary. It can turn the engine. The engine can not turn the starter-motor gear. That's why you don't hear a grinding sound, say, when you mistake the start button for the horn button. All that you've done is verified that the start button and the starter-motor are working.

[Ricky-D]

Your confusion er trepidation may stem from the fact that people still call the starter-relay a "solenoid." The starter-relay does not push out (actuate) the starter-motor gear to mesh with the engine gear, then retract back when you release the start button. The starter-motor gear is stationary. It can turn the engine. The engine can not turn the starter-motor gear. That's why you don't hear a grinding sound, say, when you mistake the start button for the horn button. All that you've done is verified that the start button and the starter-motor are working.

Ahhh, nice to see someone attempt to clear up that common misconception but I fear it's like "preaching to the choir", no doubt.   Trying to "teach old dogs new tricks" has always been a failed philosophy.

***

[RonW]

LOL.

[matt]

alright let me try this again.  with bike running kickstand up driving down rode if you hit starter button headlight should blink right?  well I hit button and you do hear starter noise but if you just push button a little bike shuts down, it also shuts down if you push all the way and you hear starter noise.  Thank You for any help.  Be Good Matt       Well it used to work so I could flash headlight and I thought I read it was made like that, but  like I said I could flash headlight with starter button prior. If that is not how it is supposed to work I will leave it alone just want to make sure I am not having an electrical issue   Thanks

[Chrisj CMA]

alright let me try this again.  with bike running kickstand up driving down rode if you hit starter button headlight should blink right?  well I hit button and you do hear starter noise but if you just push button a little bike shuts down, it also shuts down if you push all the way and you hear starter noise.  Thank You for any help.  Be Good Matt

Driving down the road, engine running you should not hit the starter button, stop doing that

[matt]

well up till now if I hit button it would just flash headlight just want to make sure I am nt having an electrical issue.   Thanks

[Red Diamond]

You're probably having one now. You shouldn't have done that in the first place, it's not a light flasher or dimmer switch.

[RonW]

matt Today at 12:45:57 PM

....well I hit button and you do hear starter noise but if you just push button a little bike shuts down, it also shuts down if you push all the way and you hear starter noise.

That's happened to me on my other bike. Dunno why, probably the starter momentarily draws so much amps that it shuts off the electrical system. Albeit, even that doesn't sound right. Probably just a bit temperamental as all bikes can be. And I wouldn't be overusing the start button. A known weak point on practically all Hondas.

[Chrisj CMA]

well up till now if I hit button it would just flash headlight just want to make sure I am nt having an electrical issue.   Thanks

How long since youve done the starter button maintenance?

[matt]

have no starter button mait for atleast 4yrs

[Chrisj CMA]

have no starter button mait for atleast 4yrs

I would have thought that would be job#1 then look elsewhere, thats what Id do

[Ricky-D]

Matt, I don't consider you are having a problem and it sounds like everything is working as it should.

That notwithstanding I would suggest you stop testing the switch as you seem to be doing.

Some may think it's a good method for blinking the headlights but that is just a novelty, and on everything except the Interstates' it will put unnecessary strain on the switch since the full current to the headlight is carried by the switch, not to mention the deleterious affect to the headlight filament.

I think the smarter alternative would be to install a headlight modulator if someone wanted to achieve that effect.

Regarding maintenance on the switch, since it's working Ok, I don't see where it is necessary.

***

[RP#62]

For the starter to spin when you push the start button, the start relay has to get a ground.  There's two ways for it to find a ground.  One is thru the neutral switch when the tranny is in neutral.  The other is through the sidestand switch when the sidestand is down and the clutch lever is pulled in.  Sounds like you have a switch that has failed closed or the wire from the switch is shorted to ground. I'd start with the neutral switch.  Take the connector off put a meter on it and see if it goes from open to ground when you shift into neutral.
-RP

[matt]

Thank You RP   I will check those out. I did not think starter should spin while running down the road. I did check nuetral switch as I have time to look at wiring diagram and know looking at diagram I see side stand switch..  Be Good,  Matt

[gordonv]

Thank You RP   I will check those out. I did not think starter should spin while running down the road. I did check nuetral switch as I have time to look at wiring diagram and know looking at diagram I see side stand switch..  Be Good,  Matt

Why shouldn't your stater spin while your engine is running, if you press the start switch? Your car does!

[Walküre]

For the starter to spin when you push the start button, the start relay has to get a ground.  There's two ways for it to find a ground.  One is thru the neutral switch when the tranny is in neutral.  The other is through the sidestand switch when the sidestand is down and the clutch lever is pulled in.  Sounds like you have a switch that has failed closed or the wire from the switch is shorted to ground. I'd start with the neutral switch.  Take the connector off put a meter on it and see if it goes from open to ground when you shift into neutral.
-RP

Which, as I see it, is why some people use it, to warn others they're coming, when riding down the road, IN GEAR, clutch OUT, and KICKSTAND UP - the starter is NOT engaging, and the lights will blink. It doesn't put ANY more strain on the switch, than when you START the bike, which turns the lights off, also.

If your lights are on a separate owner-provided relay, with the relay triggered by the switch, even better...

Unless someone can prove my conception is incorrect...


R

[Earl in Pensacola]

I, for several years always used the starter button to "flash" other riders.  That action did not activate the starter if you were rolling down the highway.  However, (per the dealership recommendation) I replaced the entire starter switch assembly once, so I quite using the starter button and switched to using the high/low switch.  I figured that my failed starter assembly was due to the additional use.  (I used it alot!)