it just goes "click"

[Emmajoe]

So I just put the bike together after a paint job. Everythin went together pretty well and I was feeling a bit proud of myself, untill I tried to start the bike. stand up, in nuetral, and clutch engaged it just clicks in the relay. I tried jumping it in case the batter was low, no go. So, um any ideas what could be going on?

[RVertigo]

Make sure your clutch and side-stand switches are connected correctly.

[Emmajoe]

I photo'd and labeled everything and checked the connections, so I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be it

[RVertigo]

So...  All the lights come on...  You have the side stand up, in neutral, clutch in...  You hit the starter button and...

**click**


So the lights dim or go off for a second?


Try putting it in gear and rocking it back and forth...  If the starter is stuck, that will loosen it up.   

[Phaedrus]

is the ground earthed?

Or alternatively, is the earth grounded? 

[Emmajoe]

everythings hooked up right, far as I can tell, it's exactly the way it was before I pulled it apart

[Longinus]

"It aint got no gas in it, Mmm Hmm." - Sling blade.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Yeah.. but you just painted it. Meaning you probably painted over the contact point for the ground. Meaning you no longer have a ground. Pull the ground off, sand the frame bare where it attaches, and put it back on. Also, check the sidestand switch/clutch switch. Just because you're "pretty sure" that they're the way the were, doesn't mean you couldn't have screwed up. Check the easy stuff first, I always say..

[John Bates]

A wild guess, If you painted the surfaces (the frame of the bike at the mount points for the engine) that provide ground for the starter motor then the relay would operate (click) but the starter motor would not run for the lack of a complete circuit (to ground/earth).

[lachie]

what about a flat battery??

got any good hills where you live?? could try clutch starting it??

[joedude]

If you sand down parts of the frame to bare metal... Try and keep it localized to where the contact will be made, and slap some electrolyte on there... It'll help make a good connection and its greasiness will prevent the formation of corrosion.

[Emmajoe]

the battery is new, so thats not it. It could be the ground for the battery, or the starter motor. I can sand down the engine mount spots, though it'll be a pain, but when looking at the battery, I cant see anyplace that it conects to the frame for a ground. where should that be?

[The Buddha]

Fluid in combustion chamber You got gas or oil in there even a few cc's worth can ahve your nice 9:1 compression shoot into the 15:1 range ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[3imo]

There is no actual wire that connects to the frame to ground it (the frame). the frame is ground via the motor. the motor is ground via a wire to the battery neg.

the motor has a ground bolted directly onto it. look behind motor, rear brake cylinder side. you will see a small 10mm bolt with a black wire attached to it.

as I recall this goes directly to a plastic connector on the the battery neg terminal.  when you took the bike apart you shouldn't have disconnected this from the motor, unless you painted it.

if this ground is somehow compromised, but still connected it is possible the starter will only get enough juice to "click" and not engaged.
because the circuit will not allow enough courrent throught the start circuit.


sO, did you disconnect this ground from the motor? check how you have it routed, is it pinched or cut? also check the plastic connector it connect to the battery, is it wet or damaged, maybe loose?

good luck

[LimaXray]

wait, so you do hear the relay click and no starter click?  If that's the case then all your clutch level, sidestand, battery, etc are fine.  The problem is either your starter ground or the starter supply line from the relay are making a good connection.  Check them out, I would bet the starter ground was painted over or wasn't reconnected. 

[3imo]

The starter is grounded via its direct connection to the engine block.
technically there isn't a "starter ground"

Not to imply LX is wrong, I just think they way he worded it is misleading.

The frame does not provide the ground for the starter. The engine does. if the engine is not properly grounded the starter circuit will engage ("click")  but not have enough juice to turn the engine.

The "click" IMO is the starter sliding out to engage the motor gears. a bad ground can cause this.  as well as a bad pos.

check em both.

[LimaXray]

Yeah I don't know how the starter is grounded, but I would have guessed as much.  The point is there is nothing wrong with anything other then his starter connections.

I don't understand if he hears a 'click click click' of the starter trying to engage, or just a 'click' of the starter relay.  In either case I would bet the starter isn't grounded the way it is supposed to be based on the fact he just painted the thing. 

If it's just a single 'click' you can check this by taking a multimeter and checking there is 12v between the somewhere on engine (find some bare metal like a bolt) and the (+) terminal of the battery. 

It is also possible there is something wrong with the starter relay, check that there is 12v between the heavy (black?) starter wire coming from the relay and a good ground point (ie the (-) terminal of the battery) when you push the starter button.  Then check there is 12v between the same wire and the (+) terminal of the battery when you're not pushing the starter button.

[3imo]

if you hear a "click" it is getting 12v.  which is my point with a comprimised ground. it has a 12v signal just not enough current to turn the engine.
its the same with a dying battery. you'll read 12v+ but it will not turn the engine.

the voltage is present but the current cannot travel through whatever part of the circuit is compromised.

Checking for 12v with a multimeter will do nothing. you already know it is "clicking"  thats your 12v signal. 
He ruled out the battery so it must be something broken or a weak ground.

heres what I would do.

put the bike in gear and turn the engine with the rear wheel, be sure it ain't locked or siezed.
if you cannot start and only hear a click. attempt to push start the bike. (assuming batt is good)
if the bike runs you have isolated the prob to your starter circuits. check all switches and connections. (especially ground)
I personally would disconnect and reconnect everything (20min of work?) inbetween the starter,batt and start switch.
if all is good. remove the starter and directly apply the battery to it. if it runs. 
go backwards to the next component and directly apply the batt. continue on until you either find the problem or the problem disappears.

[Emmajoe]

I raelly appriciate all the beta, I'll go play with it for a bit and let you know how it turns out.

[LimaXray]

There are 2 kinds of clicking: a repeated clicking because there is not enough current to fully engage the starter, or a single click of the starter relay actuating when you push the starter button but for some reason not powering the starter.  I am under the impression he is hearing the relay click and the starter is doing nothing because it has a totally bad connection. 

If it clicks repeatedly when you hold the button, do what 3imo said. 

If it clicks once when you push the button and clicks again when you release the button, do what I said.