Hitchcocks Forum

This is a very bizarre one (for me anyway).

So, the C5 Classic has been tucked away in my lock up between Xmas & new year. I went to start her up trickle charge to the battery wouldn't do any harm.


I put the battery back on this eve. Tried to start her up but again without much luck. It tried to start a few times but each time a fair bit of smoke came out of the exhaust.


I kept trying but then at one one point, I pressed the starter button, but it continued to whirr even when de-pressed and wouldn't stop. The only way to stop the starter running was to disconnect the battery.


This is no doubt way beyond my skill set so i'm probably going to try to get someone out to take a look, but in the meantime, do any of you have suggestions what could be causing this? The bike ran perfectly well before being garaged and noone could have tampered with it.

Thanks

Stuck solenoid. Common problem and most frightening! Carry side cutters or fit a battery isolation switch...


Replace the solenoid and fit one intended for a Jet-Ski/water-craft that can cope with damp environment.

Thanks. I'll look into that. It was certainly very freaky. Even with the ignition off, keys out etc it was still churning away.


I've had something similar on an old vespa where the plug got so hot it stayed running when you tried to kill the engine. Almost like it was possessed.

It's like a ghost story for Christmas, Stephen King would be proud. Maybe it's called "Norm's C5 Curse...." (apologies to Norm!)

REgards, Mark

I actually had exactly the same a few weeks ago under very similar circumstances. I thought it was linked to me trying to start my efi with a battery that was low on charge and the starter not having enough oomph to overcome compression, remaining engaged and somehow triggering the solenoid. I (hastily) disconnected battery then loosened the starter motor retaining bolts a tad, tapped with a hammer handle, retightened and tried again with a fully charged battery. All was fine and has not occurred since or in previous three years of owning the bike.

I put it down to one of the joys of RE ownership but now Tim has started solenoid getting stuck I'll have a rethink and maybe replace the solenoid.