[Daschel89]

Hi all, Just got a 1990 Honda Fourtrax 300 in a trade deal. Didn't come with a battery. went out and bought a battery. Electric starter worked perfect. Went out next day to start it and it acted like there was now power to lights or starter. I used a screwdriver to the POS-NEG terminals on the solenoid and there starter works. The bikes kicks over just fine. Don't know what it could be. any advise would be great.

 

[shadetree]

welcome. starter solenoid is bad.

 

[Goober]

Went out next day to start it and it acted like there was now power to lights or starter. I used a screwdriver to the POS-NEG terminals on the solenoid and there starter works. The bikes kicks over just fine.

Wait a minute let’s clarify No power to lights or starter.

What lights?

Do you have dash lights when you first turn on the ignition? Everything appears normal to this point? If it is at this point you get no dash lights then I would think you should check your ignition switch for loose connectors or jiggle the key to see if the switch may be dirty/bad.

If you get lights and no start your starter button or that handlebar switch may have loose connection or be dirty/bad

When you press the starter button do the lights then want to go dim? Ok yes then an OEM starter solenoid May be needed. Try cleaning the terminal lugs first.

 

[Daschel89]

Update, I replaced the Key switch. Still have no power to the starter button. When i turn the key on no dash lights come on at all. After i fire it up i get the dash lights to come on. I can't tell if the headlights are working. One is missing then the other is burned out or just not working. I did find a loose wire near the solenoid. reconnected it and still nothing. My next thing to thinking of doing would be to replace the Solenoid. Are there any fuses i should be looking at?

Thanks

 

[shadetree]

Update, I replaced the Key switch. Still have no power to the starter button. When i turn the key on no dash lights come on at all. After i fire it up i get the dash lights to come on. I can't tell if the headlights are working. One is missing then the other is burned out or just not working. I did find a loose wire near the solenoid. reconnected it and still nothing. My next thing to thinking of doing would be to replace the Solenoid. Are there any fuses i should be looking at?

Thanks

the starter solenoid has NOTHING to do with why you don't see any lights ?!. this is a fuse or battery, or cable connection problem. why did you replace the ignition switch ?, and is it oem or some amazon junk for cheap money ?. the reason your light on the dash is working when its running ?, is because now the light are running off the stator, and not the battery !. check ALL the fuses, ground cables, battery cables, make sure they are tight ?, AND CONNECTED CORRECTLY !!!. as for why it won't crank over with the electric starter ?, this is either a bad starter ? ( worn starter brushes ), or..the starter solenoid is bad ?. but this has nothing to do with why your not getting dash lights.

 

[Daschel89]

When i last parked the bike The dash lights and starter were all working perfectly fine. When i came back to it and tried starting it. I noticed the dash lights were not on and the electric starter wasn't working. All the wires around the Solenoid are a complete mess. I'm thinking maybe something got crossed and blew a fuse. What are you thoughts. I replaced the Key switch because the original one had fraying wires. " It was time for a upgrade" and to answer your question it is a OEM switch. wouldn't put anything else in these older bikes.

Thanks

 

[shadetree]

When i last parked the bike The dash lights and starter were all working perfectly fine. When i came back to it and tried starting it. I noticed the dash lights were not on and the electric starter wasn't working. All the wires around the Solenoid are a complete mess. I'm thinking maybe something got crossed and blew a fuse. What are you thoughts. I replaced the Key switch because the original one had fraying wires. " It was time for a upgrade" and to answer your question it is a OEM switch. wouldn't put anything else in these older bikes.

Thanks

ok, forget the ignition switch for now. lets work on tracing power from battery to the ignition switch . do you have a ohm meter or a 12v dc test light works best for tracing shorts. you need to check BOTH fuses at the battery, power from battery to and out of both of these two fuses. if your not getting power to them ?, you need to locate the problem. dumb question...BUT I'VE SEEN IT A LOT !, any chance you hooked the battery cables up wrong ???????. if your connections are correct ?, and your getting power to the fuses, and out of the fuses ?, then now you must go to the ignition switch with your 12v dc test light, and see where your power is at coming FROM the battery ?. where you plugged the new switch in, unplug it, use the test light to see if your getting 12 volts on the solid big red wire on the harness side ?. if not ?, now you know your short is somewhere between that plug...and the fuses at the back. if you are getting power to the plug on harness side ?, plug the switch back in, now go past the plug towards the ignition switch, you should have 12 volts all the way to the switch ?, if you do ?, turn the switch on, now start poking the wires coming back out of the switch, and see if your wires are showing 12 volts ?. most trx300 ignition switches should show power on pink wire, power on black wire.

 

[_Wilson_]

All the wires around the Solenoid are a complete mess

just asking this, to eliminate a common issue we've seen, rodents chewing up the wire harness....also if you can snap/post some pics ?