My '77 starts first time, every time with a quarter of a kick - which impresses dogs, small children and the occasional young lady at the gas station on the back of an electric start only cruiser - and I rarely use the electric foot, though it's good to have especially if stalled in traffic. I lost my starter button a week or so ago and replaced it with one I had in the parts pile.
Today I hit the button just for old times sake and nothing happened. I'm not sure I tested it when I replaced it.......
So I broke the switch down again for inspection and the voltmeter out to test for continuity and voltage. Continuity from the ground post on the battery to where it mounts to the frame was sporadic. Cleaned that up. Checked power to the solenoid...was good. Checked continuity on the L/W from the switch to the solenoid. Good too. Hm. Dug out another button from the parts pile and proceeded to swap again.
On reassembly I noticed the stamped metal wire hold down/ground piece set just a millimeter or two above the switch body section that semi encircles the handlebar (the bottom half of the switch). Off that piece came for a minor adjustment. Laying it up on the vice and a couple of taps on the bent section that comes down to contact the handlebar and then reinstalled. Now that contact piece sets about a millimeter or two below the semicircle, contacting the handlebar before the switch housing. Buttoned everything back up, key on, hit the button and we're back in business.
Was it the button? Probably. Was it the ground? Could be. Is it a tale? Yep.
Today I hit the button just for old times sake and nothing happened. I'm not sure I tested it when I replaced it.......
So I broke the switch down again for inspection and the voltmeter out to test for continuity and voltage. Continuity from the ground post on the battery to where it mounts to the frame was sporadic. Cleaned that up. Checked power to the solenoid...was good. Checked continuity on the L/W from the switch to the solenoid. Good too. Hm. Dug out another button from the parts pile and proceeded to swap again.
On reassembly I noticed the stamped metal wire hold down/ground piece set just a millimeter or two above the switch body section that semi encircles the handlebar (the bottom half of the switch). Off that piece came for a minor adjustment. Laying it up on the vice and a couple of taps on the bent section that comes down to contact the handlebar and then reinstalled. Now that contact piece sets about a millimeter or two below the semicircle, contacting the handlebar before the switch housing. Buttoned everything back up, key on, hit the button and we're back in business.
Was it the button? Probably. Was it the ground? Could be. Is it a tale? Yep.