Does this sound like a bad solenoid?

[scrisp]

My non-problem child '95 SPX has never given me a bit of trouble, until recently. When I push the starter button, all get is a click. If I keep trying, it will start eventually start right up and run fine.

Does this sound like the starter solenoid? Are all of the solenoid from aroudn the era, the same? Is there a way to test the solenoid before I order a new one?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[benjilafouine]

Sounds like it. But a weak battery could do that as well. You can always jump the solenoid with a screwdriver. It would make the engine turn but you need to check your battery as well.

Benji.

 

[Coastiejoe]

It is one of the following..

Bad Battery, Solenoid, connection or cable. In that order in your case I am betting..

Jump the solenoid, if it clicks like it has been, that is the starter engaging but not cranking. I had the EXACT issue, replaced the solenoid and still had the issue.. Load test the battery. I bet you find it is low...

 

[96spxpos]

yes, could be a battery issue. my spx had a weak battery and unless I gave it a fresh charge, it would get a click or two, THEN it would crank over. at the same time though, the starter end of the ground(black) battery cable had some corrosion on it...not a lot, but a little bit.. I had also cleaned that at the same time. clicking stopped and ski would crank right over

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

My non-problem child '95 SPX has never given me a bit of trouble, until recently. When I push the starter button, all get is a click. If I keep trying, it will start eventually start right up and run fine.

Does this sound like the starter solenoid? Are all of the solenoid from aroudn the era, the same? Is there a way to test the solenoid before I order a new one?

Thanks,
Scott

This is the symptom of a defective solenoid, jumpering the two large terminals will confirm if the engine will crank. You can use pliers or a screwdriver.

The terminals inside wear out eventually, or they may corrode in the presence of moisture, salt or lack of use due to the action is self-cleaning.

 

[Coastiejoe]

This is the symptom of a defective solenoid, jumpering the two large terminals will confirm if the engine will crank. You can use pliers or a screwdriver.

The terminals inside wear out eventually, or they may corrode in the presence of moisture, salt or lack of use due to the action is self-cleaning.

Generally I agree 100%,, But in my case, it was the battery. It is common for the internal connections of the solenoid to arc and get dirty over time. Thus, you get the click but not cranking... I just assumed that was my issue due to how the commonly fail. But,, I was wrong...

What I am going to do is, wire up the solenoid I removed to bypass the START button via a button somewhere else in the hull. This will save me in the event the START circuit fails and I can crank it with no ignition if I have a need to.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Generally I agree 100%,, But in my case, it was the battery. It is common for the internal connections of the solenoid to arc and get dirty over time. Thus, you get the click but not cranking... I just assumed that was my issue due to how the commonly fail.

Yes, and I'm confident you pre-confirmed by jumpering the two large terminals together before replacing the solenoid? Otherwise you left at least three other possibilities on the table.

Not that I would oppose replacing a 20 year old solenoid, necessarily.

And as you correctly point out, battery, corroded cable (esp from salt), poor connection, solenoid, starter itself are all responsible for getting things going.

And then there's the battery that works great when it wants to then out of the blue cant produce enough current to light a taillight bulb. That the type of battery failure 96spxpos experienced.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Yes, and I'm confident you pre-confirmed by jumpering the two large terminals together before replacing the solenoid?

And then there's the battery that works great when it wants to then out of the blue cant produce enough current to light a taillight bulb. That the type of battery failure 96spxpos experienced.

In my case, the "Ghost" battery was exactly what was happening to me.. I did the jumper and it cranked more than it didn't, so I went with the percentages...

Oh well,, I have a very nice full metal jacketed Odyssey Battery now,,, Oh,, and a spare solenoid... LOL

 

[benjilafouine]

You can have a mechanics perform a load test on your battery if you do not have the budget to get another one.

Benji.

 

[scrisp]

I cleaned the battery cables and trickle charged the battery and still just get the "click" with no starter engagement.

Before I get to far into chasing internals, I want to try the solenoid.

I have a 96 XP that has just a bad starter, no bendix engagement, but the starter spins good. Is the XP solenoid interchangeable witht he 95 SPX?

If that works in the SPX, I'll just buy another one and a rebuilt OEM starter for the XP and leave it that way. Just trying to get the SPX started so that I can winterize it this weekend.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Have a look at the connector where the two thin wires attach, chances are if this is the same then the solenoids are identical. I'm pretty sure you'll find they are.

 

[scrisp]

Well, just wanted to give followup to my problem. I swapped the solenoid from my XP to the SPX. I wasn't sure if they were interchangeble but figured that I'd give it a try. When I got the SPX wired back up and everything reconnected, I hit the starter button and "click". I was like WTF?!!!! I could not have imagined having two bad solenoids, but figured that it was possible. But, I messed with it for a minute and it hit. I cranked until it got fuel to the carbs and she fired right up. Turned out to be the friggin switch!! I have to push it and kinda grind my finger into a certain area and it starts. I guess I'll be buying two of everything over the winter, just to make sure that it all works, on both machines.

I couldn't verify the interchangability of the solenoids between the two Doos, but found a solenoid on Amazon and it had the SPX listed through 1999, and the XP (among a ton fo others) through like 2000 or so.

I got the SPX winterized and fogged until she quit, after filling the tank and putting Stabil in. I hate seeing them covered and put way in the back of the garage, it means that winter is on its way. :-(