Hitchcocks Forum

just finished putting back together a literal basketcase 2004 500 bullet. the bike came to me in boxes. Can't get the starter to engage. I can arc across the solenoid and the starter fires. Had a spare solenoid so I tried it as well, same result. Could it be the safety mechanism that deosn't allow the starter to engage if the side stand is down? If so, how would I test for this. My other thought was the safety that requires the clutch to be engaged. If so, how would I check for that scenario?
thanks, Dean

on second thought the 2004 wouldn't have the kick start safety - would it.

Hi Dean, Bullets didn't have a kickstand safety switch, only Electras had that. First check with a test light on the wire to the solonoid switch from the starter button, can't remember the colour to see if there is power to it when the ignition is on and you push the starter button. To check the clutch switch pull the clutch in and push the start button, this will overide the neutral switch in the gearbox. Check to make sure this wire is connected to the switch in the rear of the box, bet you have lost the screw, it is a tiny little one and I have no idea of the thread

A few minutes with a multimeter or even a simple 12 volt bulb and holder with two wires will soon diagnose problem…

1/ Do you get power to the solenoid input when you press the starter button?? ignition on..

2/If not is there 12volts dc available at the starter button??

3/ Where does the starter button get its power from?? May be a starter cut out device in the left tool box .. blue thing with six or five wires… check your wiring diagram…

4/ The clutch switch is the last piece of the circuit and provides the return to earth/ground when the lever is pulled in… Check for continuity through switch and presence of 12volts…

got power from the handlebar switch to the solenoid - the blue wire to the soleniod has power when I depress the switch on the handlebar. the soleniod also has power to it. checked the wire on the back of the gearbox and it is connected. does power to the blue wire from the handlebar switch mean that the gearbox/clutch safety isn't the problem? could I be unlucky enough to have 2 bad solenoids (the one on the bike and my spare)? could it be a bad ground to the solenoid? as mentioned before, I can short across the 2 solenoid terminals and the starter will engage. it wouldn't engage if I had a bad ground, would it?

could it be as simple as a low charge on the battery. using the battery that came with the bike - don't know it's age - charged it, but can't vouch for it's condition.

Dean if you have power in the blue/white at the solonoid then the safety switches are all good, problem is the solonoid and possibly the solonoid earth. Not sure if it has its own earth or relies on the body of the solonod for earth. Jumping across the solonoid only proves the starter works, nothing else. Either solonoid shot or solonoid earth problem

Norm, the fact you have power on the blue/white doesn't mean the safety switches are ok…

They are located in the earth return, (black wire) from the solenoid relay to the frame…

i agree that its probably a duff solenoid but continuity of the black wire through the clutch switch and neutral switch must be proved…

Gwilly, I think you could be right, I would have to check a wiring diagram and have a think about it but that makes sense. I guess one way to test would be to connect the wire going to the gearbox to earth and see what that does

ground tested good to the solenoid and gearbox. maybe I am just unlucky and have 2 bad soleniods. same solenoid as on my 350, right? will try switching that one to the 500 and see what happens.
thanks to all who commented
will let you know how it goes.