The most common problem in the starter circuit is the actual push button switch. It is a dual contact switch that turns your headlight off (to allow all available current to the starter) when it puts voltage to the magnetic switch (what you call the solenoid, actualy a heavy duty relay). mine went bad this past July with 30,000 miles on the clock and no additional lighting. I think the fact that it wanted to continue to crank leads us to believe the pushbutton switch is badly fugged. I orderd both parts ( the relay and the push button switch) when mine failed because I did'nt want to risk downtime. Installing the new push button fixed it. And, be ready, you have to buy the entire right side switch assembly ($50) to get the push button. The mag switch (heavy duty relay) was $45.

 

okay i see where you are coming from. but when i hit the starter button it still make the clik like it is trying to make it start. can you send me the part number and wher you purchase it from.

Tiny

 

okay i see where you are coming from. but when i hit the starter button it still make the clik like it is trying to make it start. can you send me the part number and wher you purchase it from.

Tiny

I could be wrong, but you're describing the exact symptom of a dirty starter switch. Do the rattlebar starter switch clean up before you spend your money on a new assembly that may do the same thing next year. It's the nature of the beast.

I've cleaned my switch a couple times, but this year the switch SEEMED to quit altogether. I thought it might be something else this time but when I tracked it down . . . YEP . . . it was the switch again. This time I discovered that the brass contact bumps were not making ANY contact. So I took a little screw driver and pried those little boogers up just a hair and voila'!

Starts perfect every time, but I'll probably have to clean them up again next year. Good luck.

 

When mine first began to fail I cleaned it up, it worked for another week or two. It's worth a try. I never thought to manipulate the copper contacts to lower the resistance across them. I could see that working as Russ has said. I bought the parts from HDL, the sponsor of this forum. They are listed in the parts catalog as 'handlebar switches', left and right.

 

Your problem is the solenoid; I believe Honda calls it the relay. About $26.00 at HOP.

 

I just remembered seeing something about a common garden tractor using the same solenoid, and that solenoid selling for just a few bucks at the outdoor center. Anyone recall the specifics for Tiny?

 

Joined: 18 Jul 2004
Posts: 3722
Location: Schenectady NY
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:03 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out the link to coyote7864's best posts

the red letters below the signature photo of my bike.

There are links there to starter switch problems and
how to troubleshoot to determine if the problem
is due to the handlebar switch assembly or to the
starter relay under the left painted side cover.

And there is information on what stock number Murray lawn tractor
relay will work as a replacement for the expensive Honda
starter relay.

But most folks with starter problems find that it is the
start/stop handlebar switch assembly that has failed.
It has been happening to owners of 1500 Valkyries,
1100 Shadows and 1300 VTXs as well as our own bikes.

The reason appears to be that Honda did not install a headlight
relay and the contacts for the headlight in the starter pushbutton
switch pit and corrode from use of the starter switch to turn the
headlight off while starting the bike.
Adding a lightbar to the circuit without adding a relay for the lightbar
accelerates the switch failure, but there are plenty of stock
VTXs out there who have had to replace the start/stop switch assembly
who have never replaced their headlights with higher wattage bulbs
or added lightbars to their headlight circuits.

It is a weak spot in our bikes that can be corrected by adding
a relay to run the headlight.
This will reduce the amount of current thru the starter switch
contacts from about 5 amps to about one half amp and
will increase the service life of the switch.
_________________
Custom 2003 VTX1800 D model
Stock C model intake and exhaust.



coyote7864's best posts
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Okay, the answer to which solenoid works should be in here.

 

hey fellas,

thanks for the leads and responses. I appreciate all the information. I will go and try to find a solenoid for a lawn mower first and also clean the swith. It has been two week with out riding and the weather has been beautiful.

Tiny

 

hey fellas,

thanks for the leads and responses. I appreciate all the information. I will go and try to find a solenoid for a lawn mower first and also clean the swith. It has been two week with out riding and the weather has been beautiful.

Tiny

 

hey fellas,

thanks for the leads and responses. I appreciate all the information. I will go and try to find a solenoid for a lawn mower first and also clean the swith. It has been two week with out riding and the weather has been beautiful.

Tiny

 

hey fellas,

thanks for the leads and responses. I appreciate all the information. I will go and try to find a solenoid for a lawn mower first and also clean the swith. It has been two week with out riding and the weather has been beautiful.

Tiny