Another starter button query

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malomoto

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Hello all I have a 1978 E type. I picked it up a few days ago and don't know the backstory on the machine but it seems to be pretty stock. I got it running and rode around the block, the following day I got nothing from the starter button. The bike is in neutral (light was on) and I don't believe it has a clutch or side stand relay. I used a 20amp momentary switch from the blue white wire to the solenoid and she fired up, but it made a noise like it had a weak battery. If I wanted to keep this button which wires do I need to connect to get rid of the chatter? Thanks for the advice!
 
I just have this wired directly to the solenoid
 

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malomoto said:
Hello all I have a 1978 E type. I picked it up a few days ago and don't know the backstory on the machine but it seems to be pretty stock. I got it running and rode around the block, the following day I got nothing from the starter button. The bike is in neutral (light was on) and I don't believe it has a clutch or side stand relay. I used a 20amp momentary switch from the blue white wire to the solenoid and she fired up, but it made a noise like it had a weak battery. If I wanted to keep this button which wires do I need to connect to get rid of the chatter? Thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...
A mechanical grinding type noise?

That's the very common indeed starter gear drag spring problem. Loads of information here about it. It's not an electrical issue
 
Hey Raymond, it's not a drag, it's a clicking noise. Tick tick tick sound as if the battery was too low to turn the starter over. The battery is new and fully charged, and does start the bike.
 
malomoto said:
Hey Raymond, it's not a drag, it's a clicking noise. Tick tick tick sound as if the battery was too low to turn the starter over. The battery is new and fully charged, and does start the bike.
Click to expand...
Just about every electric start 650 Yamaha twin will have the drag spring issue sooner or later. It's built in to the starter gear train design
 
malomoto said:
Hello all I have a 1978 E type. I picked it up a few days ago and don't know the backstory on the machine but it seems to be pretty stock. I got it running and rode around the block, the following day I got nothing from the starter button. The bike is in neutral (light was on) and I don't believe it has a clutch or side stand relay. I used a 20amp momentary switch from the blue white wire to the solenoid and she fired up, but it made a noise like it had a weak battery. If I wanted to keep this button which wires do I need to connect to get rid of the chatter? Thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...
Did you check battery voltage after your ride? Does the horn work. Pretty common for the starter to sound like this as IBaLT points out. I don't know how the relays on the '78work but my '81 starter button horn and signals won't work if voltage is low. I need to take my own advice and do some homework here to 'splain it .
 
Its been a long time said:
See my other post about grounding the right side switch cluster.
Click to expand...
Ok I will. In the meantime I had the throttle side completely apart and just by accidental luck or bad luck when I hit the start
JJames said:
Did you check battery voltage after your ride? Does the horn work. Pretty common for the starter to sound like this as IBaLT points out. I don't know how the relays on the '78work but my '81 starter button horn and signals won't work if voltage is low. I need to take my own advice and do some homework here to 'splain it .
Click to expand...
After clearing the paint from the bars the oe start button worked and the starter didn't make that noise. It must have been the way I had wired the temporary button. But the starter button stopped working again. Oh well she kicks just fine!
 
Coming up on 50 years old ALL the handlebar switches (ignition switch too) are due for a round of opening, cleaning, lubrication. None are especially hard to do but a good job is a bit fiddly and it will take a few hours, 'specially if it's your first rodeo. You'll find rust, corrosion, dirt, dust, grime build up causing issues. It's very worthwhile even if everything works now, poor connections rob power from the circuits they serve causing phantom problems. Just part of owning an old machine if you want it to be reliable.
Take pics as you go and work over a pan or cookie sheet when opening switches. There are lots of tiny parts just waiting to drop n hide.
 
If the other wire is grounded to the frame yes. That's EXACTLY how the starter button works.
When the starter button doesn't, ground that blue wire, does the starter spin now? You've divided the problem in two, so you know where to start looking.
If that doesn't spin the starter, grab a big ass screw driver and short across the two big terminals on the solenoid like you mean it. That further narrows down the problem.
One more test is; check for +12 at the small red wire to the solenoid when the ignition is on, there should be voltage there.
 

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