| Author | Message | ||
     Motorbike |
I took the 08 XT for a ride after work on Saturday and stopped at a convenience store about an hour from home. When I came back out, I turned the key on and hit the start switch and nothing happened. All the dash lights were on, headlights both on nice and bright, horn had plenty of honk. What the? I shut the key off and then tried it again, still nothing, not even a click. I tried swapping the start relay with another one but that did nothing. A guy on a Harley saw my predicament and asked if he could help. He wasn't real mechanically inclined so he called his buddy on the cell phone, who came down on his Harley to try to help. The three of us checked a few simple things and stared at my bike for a while, that didn't help either. These two guys were kind enough to help push my bike to the top of the hill (Faribault, MN has plenty of hills) and I was able to bump start it in second gear. I hope I can repay the favor sometime. I rode straight home and tried the starter again. Fortunately it still did not work. I'm glad it didn't because intermittent problems are the hardest to fix. Yesterday, I got my Electrical manual out and followed the troubleshooting chart. After a few minutes, I figured out that there was no continuity when the start button was pressed. I pulled the right handlebar controls apart and found the problem. The red/black wire terminal that screws onto the start switch was corroded to a point where it was not making contact with the switch! I took it all apart and looked at the switch contacts and they were like brand new yet. I then cleaned up all the pieces and reassembled it with plenty of dielectric grease at the wire connection. Works great now! Just wanted to let you know in case any of you run into the same symptoms. I will now carry a short jumper along in the tool kit. If the start switch ever fails again (I doubt it will), I will pull the start relay out and jumper the two terminals in the fuse box to activate the starter. I don't remember the terminal numbers but it would be the largest two of the five terminals under that relay. I have not verified that this will work yet but I'm quite sure it will. I will just need to be sure the bike is in neutral! Thanks. | ||
| Uly_dude |
Thanks for the tip Al. More good info for when I'm stuck out there someday! Also something to take a look at this winter. Take Care. | ||
| Hughlysses |
A short jumper wire is handy for many such things. Good idea to have one in the spare parts/tool box. | ||
| Mnrider |
I hope you got to check out some of the twisty roads around the lakes when you where here. | ||
| Motorbike |
Mnrider, I would have liked to have done that but it was getting late in the day and I was just thankful to be able to ride it back home! Thanks. By the way, the terminals to jump together on an 08 XT in an emergency are #87 and #30 under the START relay. Make sure the bike is in neutral and pull the jumper out as soon as the engine starts! (Message edited by motorbike on October 02, 2012) (Message edited by motorbike on October 02, 2012) | ||
| Motorbike |
Just FYI, I verified last night that it does work to jump terminals 87 and 30 under the start relay if your start switch does not work, on an 08 Uly anyway. Not sure about the other years due to wiring changes etc. All you need is s short jumper wire (I used 14 ga. wire) with a male spade terminal on each end. Put the bike in neutral, turn key on, kill switch in run position, pull start relay out, momentarily jumper the two wires together to activate starter, pull jumper out, reinstall relay and ride. Very easy to do and might get you home in a pinch. These bikes are kinda hard to push start unless you have a hill to get it rolling. Thanks. |
