85 250SX starting problem, just clicks

[whyzee]

so my nice 85SX went from starting easy to just a click. Not sure if my daughter left the key on? Starts first kick with the kickstarter
I walked away from the bike which just started with the battery , to coming back 10 mins later , tried to start it and now it just clicks.
I pulled the battery, charged it. Checked the fuse coming off the battery, good. put the battery in turned key on, green neutral light goes on and just a click back by the battery right where the cables go into a little round thing ( starter magnetic switch ? ) ( no :idea: )
Any ideas before i just buy a new battery
Thanks

[Dirtcrasher]

Clicking means the solenoid is working but may not be making the huge amp connection to the battery.

Clean all grounds spotless and make sure there tight.

Jump with LG gauge wire the 2 - 10MM nuts on top of the solenoid and it should turn over.

You can also go right from the battery + to the starter direct, that could mean bad starter brushes.

Remember that the starter itself is grounded to the motor, it has no dedicated ground.............

[whyzee]

Thanks DC
grounds are all good, i will wait for my manual to do what you described, I am clueless when it comes to identifying parts on this bike. It sucks trying to carry the laptop around with the online manual.
Do you think it could be as simple as the battery? I have no idea how old it is?
what is your best guess DC as to the problem. You know these things more than most Honda mechanics. In fact you could/ should be one !
is the solenoid the round thing that is clicking ?

[wonderboy]

If you have a volt meter, hook it up to the battery and watch the volts when you hit the starter switch. If the volts are dropping below 10 or 11 volts, you have a bad battery (asusming it is sitting at greater than 12 volts before you hit the switch). If the voltage holds, you have a problem somewhere else.

[Dirtcrasher]

How old is the battery??

I've had even old batterys turn them over.

Could be the battery but the SX is well known for having ground issues and or starter brushes, also the neutral issue.

But, yours clicks! so that tells me it knows it's in neutral, knows the key is on and is trying to make a big amperage connection to the starter.

However, the contacts can get pitted over time and not make the needed connection. Like I said , clean all grounds, checking volts at the battery as said above is a good starting point and just jump the beyatch from positive on the batt (covered with a red cover) directly to that terminal on top of the starter. Take the plug out so compression isn't taxing it...........

A 7/8 wrench or so between the 2 starter solenoid 10MM terminals will tell you real quick if it's a solenoid issue or somewhere else. No, it won't zap you but you have to have the key on and in neutral to get spark, otherwise it will just turn over.

Just look in front of your battery box and you'll find 2 - 5/16th or about 8MM thick wires going to the solenoid. No laptop needed..........

If you DO need a battery, DO NOT buy the cheaper one, get the 60$ Walmart battery and be done.

[ailll1]

Mine did the same exact thing
Happened to be dirty connection on the starter( black wire pluggin on top of the starter)
Last week, I went for a ride, flipped it and now the issue came back
Tried to clean it multiple times but still clicks
I noticed that the way I put it on the nut would make it start or not
So my guess is that it has a bad ground, but I don't know how to correct it.

[whyzee]

ok DC got it to turn over a few times by cleaning the wire at the top of the starter. Sounded weak turning over, only turned over 2 or 3 times, i didn't take the plug out.
Battery will run headlights with ease. I tried jumping right from the battery to the top of the starter, nada. i bypassed the starter solenoid, nada.
Now I can't get it to turn over at all. thinking the easy way out is to try a new battery, but I have a feeling the problem is what you said.

Is there a ground ON the starter itself that I can clean?
I cleaned the main ground a few inches to the right of the starter, that looks good

I get an interminent , but weak turn over every once in a while by moving the wire around on top of the starter. Maybe I sprayed to much penetrating oil all over the bike to try and keep it from rusting????? dummmy I am!

[whyzee]

got it to turn over intermittently, but barely spins the starter . think i'll buy a battery just to eliminate that possible problem, even though i don't think that is the problem. I have no idea how old the battery is either.

[mike1979]

Try to jump start it. If it fires with a jump, odds are good that the battery is toast

[whyzee]

Try to jump start it. If it fires with a jump, odds are good that the battery is toast
what should I jump it from, the quad ? or my truck ..lol

[Dirtcrasher]

ok DC got it to turn over a few times by cleaning the wire at the top of the starter. Sounded weak turning over, only turned over 2 or 3 times, i didn't take the plug out.
Battery will run headlights with ease. I tried jumping right from the battery to the top of the starter, nada. i bypassed the starter solenoid, nada.
Now I can't get it to turn over at all. thinking the easy way out is to try a new battery, but I have a feeling the problem is what you said.

Is there a ground ON the starter itself that I can clean?
I cleaned the main ground a few inches to the right of the starter, that looks good

I get an interminent , but weak turn over every once in a while by moving the wire around on top of the starter. Maybe I sprayed to much penetrating oil all over the bike to try and keep it from rusting????? dummmy I am!

Well, you kinow I love ya :D

BUT, I said before to clean all grounds and the STARTER BOLTED TO THE MOTOR is the starters ground.

The top wire is the HOT or POSITIVE wire. Sometimes jumper cables don't get on that small terminal to well, thats why I use a #6 gauge wire from the battery to the starter.

Did you check the volts at the battery? The VM really eliminates the battery being an issue almost immediately. You also may not be charging the battery (I dare you to ask me how to confirm that :lol: ) If it's good and charging a half hour ride will get it up to 12V easy unless it is stone dead. They do not last long if left in the cold or unused often..........

If wiggling a wire helps, take it off clean it and the mating surface with a SS brush and tighten it down.

Yes, you probably do need a new battery and the right one runs about 55-60$ with a core charge...........

EDIT - I jump trikes and lawnmowers with trucks,cars or 200AMP quick start that runs my backhoe. BUT, it's not a good thing to do OFTEN as it is far too many amps..........

[whyzee]

Well, you kinow I love ya :D

BUT, I said before to clean all grounds and the STARTER BOLTED TO THE MOTOR is the starters ground.

The top wire is the HOT or POSITIVE wire. Sometimes jumper cables don't get on that small terminal to well, thats why I use a #6 gauge wire from the battery to the starter.

Did you check the volts at the battery? The VM really eliminates the battery being an issue almost immediately. You also may not be charging the battery (I dare you to ask me how to confirm that :lol: ) If it's good and charging a half hour ride will get it up to 12V easy unless it is stone dead. They do not last long if left in the cold or unused often..........

If wiggling a wire helps, take it off clean it and the mating surface with a SS brush and tighten it down.

Yes, you probably do need a new battery and the right one runs about 55-60$ with a core charge...........

EDIT - I jump trikes and lawnmowers with trucks,cars or 200AMP quick start that runs my backhoe. BUT, it's not a good thing to do OFTEN as it is far too many amps..........

lmao,, DC you crack me up!!
ok , back to cleaning up all my connections

[whyzee]

ok , can't be the battery. I tried to jump it from my jeep and it made no difference. headlights have same brightness, clicking is the same volume etc...gotta be what you said DC, bad connection somewhere.
I am guessing since I just found the rubber boot which covers the starter wire,lying on the ground,some spray oil or water got into the starter and is keeping it from making a connection...ughhhh!!!!
looks like i will be using the kickstarter for awhile. I am not about to tackle taking the starter apart. Maybe whatever is causing it will evaporate over time , or i will tear into it one day.
Thanks for all the help guys. you saved me at least a few hundred $$ already

[Dirtcrasher]

Using the kicker makes that one way bearing go bad in the centrifugal clutch...... Just because it's so old.

The brushes could be going bad. There is a long lost thread on turning the armature and installing new brushes (if thats the issue) and JESWINEHART probably knows all about it. My starters were always good.

There is still one question you aren't answering, can you use a volt meter? Do you have one? It's pretty important to diagnose this unless you get lucky........

I would have put my truck cable positive right on the starter and the negative grounded to the motor to eliminate any loose connections and or the solenoid.

[whyzee]

will try that tomorrow, wife is about ready to shoot me, been playing with the bike and computer all day
so kick starting these bikes is not good??
should I just buy a voltmeter or a new battery ? which is cheaper ? lol

[Dirtcrasher]

^ I knew why you were skipping then question :lol:

I also know your situation. And unfortunately a meter is worth what you pay....... But we don't all need the same functions. Some have "peak voltage" or "hold" or even detect either AC or DC without YOU turning the knob; No need for those, just a basic meter.

I have clamp on meters that will read the amperage (DC) draw to the starter as your turning it over and simple meters that read voltage.

For what your doing, you'll just need one that checks DC volts and continuity or OHMS - Even cheap meters with good batteries take care of that.......

[whyzee]

OK DC, making progress. Battery and other systems are A OK. I think it's the starter itself
I can get the bike to start by manualy holding the starter wire onto the stud that sticks out of the starter , It's still somewhat random. the stud that sticks out of the starter is really loose. It will only start with it loose, and by me holding the wire onto the top of the stud and wiggling everything.
If I put everything back together tight , no go, just click city.
Does that sound like brushes to you? If so I WTB a starter :)