honda rancher will not start

JDDMJ · 09-17-2011, 09:19 AM

2002 Honda rancher. When you try to start the bike, it will not start unless you short out the solenoid. I cut the start button off and tried to short it out that way but it does nothing. You can see the lights dimming but that is it. Can anyone help me?

BStowe · 09-17-2011, 09:38 AM

I had a similar problem on my 01 Rancher last year. I ended up replacing the starter on it. I found a replacement starter on Amazon.com for 79.99 about half what it cost anywhere else. Starter was simple to replace you just have to remove the airbox to get to it.

BStowe · 09-17-2011, 09:40 AM

And also welcome to the forums! I have not had an issue yet that someone here could not help me with!

shadetree · 09-17-2011, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDDMJ

2002 Honda rancher. When you try to start the bike, it will not start unless you short out the solenoid. I cut the start button off and tried to short it out that way but it does nothing. You can see the lights dimming but that is it. Can anyone help me?

bad solenoid...and cutting the start button wires does nothing..you need to put them back like they were. nuetral light come on..when you turn the key on ???...if not..your elec start will not work ever !..lol...first you need to verify that your neutral light comes on when you turn the key on...if not..then you need to find out why it's not comming on ??..more than likely..the connection for the neutral light on the motor has came off ??..or got dirt or mud in it ??...and not making a good ground connection...if this is the case..your elec start feature won't work...because your c.d.i does not know your bike is in nuetral !.

shadetree · 09-17-2011, 10:26 AM

when you jump ( short out ) the solenoid..all your doing is bypassing the elec start button...soooo..this tells me..your not getting power to your start button, and when you don't get power to your start button..it's either because your not getting power period ?..or..your connection for your nuetral wire at the motor is off..dirty..or the switch itself is bad .

Helmut · 09-17-2011, 04:22 PM

I agree with Shadetree. If your neutral light is coming on, the problem is likely a bad solenoid. When you jump the two posts on the solenoid, all you're doing is bypassing the internal workings of the solenoid and bypassing the start button circuit. When you do this, it sends power straight from the battery to the starter. And welcome to the forums.