| Author | Message | ||
     Turbines |
Hello fellow buellers. Bike: 2005 Firebolt XB12R, 16000 miles I went to the store this morning and pulled in to the drive thru window and made the purchase. Turned the key on all gauges swept, fuel pump running, all dash lights on. Hit the starter button and it turned over but didn't start. Switch off and back on all is good on the dash panel again, hit the start button didn't turn over quickly. About the 3rd or 4th time of this the starter did nothing no solenoid kick in nothing. I tried it again serveral more times but nothing. Dash panel looking normal. Luckily there was a down hill grade and I rolled down and bumped it off in 2nd gear. Drove home. I have checked the ignition fuse 15amp on the right side fuse box and it is good. I pulled the starter relay on the left side and looked at the posts they are good. That'all I did to try and trouble shoot. Should I test the function of the relay how do you do that? I have a multi meter if that is all it takes. One other thing that happens now is when I turn the key on, the middle red light that has the engine symbol in it only stays on for about 2 seconds and then goes out. It's not the battery because the clock is still on time. I have not smelled anything smoking or over heated. Is there something else that I should look at? What about the yellow starter button that thing doesn't seem very sturdy to me. I hope someone on the board knows what to point me to look at. Thanx in advance | ||
| Turbines |
Flash!! I went back out to the shop and thinking about the starter button. Turned on the ignition and pushed on the button and nothing yet, I wiggled and pushed and got intimate with that little cheap piece of plastic and suddenly I got it to turn over! I will remove the right side handle bar switch box and see if I can find some crud or dried pecker tracks on the posts. I'm just about to be happy again I took the yellow switch apart at least down to where I could see the contacts and screws that hold the wires on. Sure nuff there was rust on the screw head and white powder water deposits on the brass washers and the spring loaded contacters had more of the same. Scotch brite (red) took care of all the cleaning. Assembled the unit and all is well. Be careful with the little parts associated with the yellow switch. No bear paws allowed. Take your time with the throttle cables they have to route exactly as they came apart. | ||
| Ulyboy |
Hey Mike! Thanks for the informative info in your post! I've just experienced the same problem you had described, now a year and a half later. I've checked the relays by switching the other relay that is like the ignition relay (key switch), with the same symptoms, so I'm happy that looking into that switch cluster is a good check to make next. Like you, the gauges, headlight, and fuel pump, all "do their thing" when I turn the key. When I thumb the starter button, nothing! I don't look forward to getting in there because of all the little flimsiness, but that's just what I'll do next!! Thanks again for documenting your work here - it's the first place I come to troubleshoot this wonderful bike. Buells forever! -Mike (in California) |
