Purchased '02 Foreman/Rubicon 500. Worked great for first year, however lately, I've had issues with starting the quad up. What typically has happened is I will push the electric start button and the quad will turn over and fire up, however most times I'll forget to engage the choke or pull slightly on the throttle and the quad will shut off. Sometimes (not always), I will immediately do the same steps again, however I just hear a click (I believe from the starter relay).
In times past, I have waited a few minutes after looking things over on the quad trying to figure out what's wrong. After this time had elapsed, I'd go back pushing the start button and it may or may start right up. Though today all it would do is 'click.' I'm fairly ignorant with electrical stuff so here's what I've done so far trying to troubleshoot the issue:
1) Checked battery voltage which is good, being around 12.4-12.8v
2) Checked voltage at the starter relay. Voltage has been the same as the battery
3) Cleaned ground cable on starter as well as around it
3) Followed ground cable from starter to starter relay to verify no breaks in wire
Weird thing is and I honestly don't know what made me think this may work, but while pushing on the electric start button, I gave a light tap with a small hammer on the starter and it fired right up. So far, I've had to do this twice today (after hearing only a click when depressing electric start button).
I keep thinking there is a ground issue, but I don't know where else to test or to verify that the starter is in fact going bad? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, though keep in mind I'm not too technically savvy with the electrical portion for these engines.
In times past, I have waited a few minutes after looking things over on the quad trying to figure out what's wrong. After this time had elapsed, I'd go back pushing the start button and it may or may start right up. Though today all it would do is 'click.' I'm fairly ignorant with electrical stuff so here's what I've done so far trying to troubleshoot the issue:
1) Checked battery voltage which is good, being around 12.4-12.8v
2) Checked voltage at the starter relay. Voltage has been the same as the battery
3) Cleaned ground cable on starter as well as around it
3) Followed ground cable from starter to starter relay to verify no breaks in wire
Weird thing is and I honestly don't know what made me think this may work, but while pushing on the electric start button, I gave a light tap with a small hammer on the starter and it fired right up. So far, I've had to do this twice today (after hearing only a click when depressing electric start button).
I keep thinking there is a ground issue, but I don't know where else to test or to verify that the starter is in fact going bad? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, though keep in mind I'm not too technically savvy with the electrical portion for these engines.
