[UrbanTractor]

I have a 1994 Honda Foutrax 300FW that is completely stock and has run perfectly for 15 years. It has developed a starter/electrical problem that I need help in diagnosing please.

It would not start using the electric starter, and would only click each time the start button was pushed. The battery is fully charged and an additional jump box was connected to the battery to make sure that there was sufficient battery power, same clicking sound. It would start using the kick starter. I assumed that the starter solenoid was bad and replaced it.

As I was completing the install of the new solenoid, I connected the last battery connection and the starter engaged all by itself. I thought that I mixed up the positive and negative on the solenoid so I reversed them. Does this matter? I did not see a pos or neg stamped on the solenoid. This did not help and instead nothing happened when I made all the battery connections. So I turned the key to ON (there was no normal green neutral light) and it started using the kick starter. When I went to turn the key to OFF, the starter ran continuosly and moving the key back to ON the engine would run. The kill switch would not stop the motor or the starter either, so the only way to stop the starter was to disconnet a battery lead.

Now I have re-installed the original solenoid, but I am not sure if I damaged something or there is a "short" somewhere going to the starter. I even tried to bypass the solenoid by not connecting anything to it, but when the final battery terminal connection was made, the starter once again engaged continously even with the key in OFF.

Now I am really confused. Any tips would really be appreciated as I need this machine to help with all of the yard chores that need to be done this time of the year. Is there any way to bypass the starter and solenoid all together and just hook up the battery and use the kick to get it going? Thanks!

 

[mud99]

Check the starter buton to see if its stuck you may have to take it apart.
Keep watching and some one will be alone shortley to give more advice and better.
Welcome to the forum

 

[UrbanTractor]

Thanks for the welcome. I will check the starter button. It seems strange that the starter would even engage with the solenoid being bypassed. I look forward to hearing more.

 

[mud99]

Thanks for the welcome. I will check the starter button. It seems strange that the starter would even engage with the solenoid being bypassed. I look forward to hearing more.

These guys are top notch on some of this stuff. and also double check your wiring.

 

[curdog]

Did you find the problem. I have the exact same thing with my 1998. Please let me know

Thanks

 

[TRX2fiveO]

See curdog post he made i listed what to try there

 

[UrbanTractor]

I got it fixed. I did change the solenoid, but that was not the problem. The problem was a combination of a bad battery and a stuck starter gear.

After installing the new battery and solenoid, it would still just click one time for each push of the starter button. So I took the cover off to expose the starter gear. I pulled the starter gear out and the starter turned freely when the start button was engaged. A little gear lube and re-setting the starter gear in place and the trouble went away.

My battery was over 10 years old and it had a cell that was going bad and would not hold voltage. Good luck!

 

[Saber6]

Thanks for the update!!

 

[ed.1963]

I have 1994 300 fourtrax, initial trouble no lights, starter wouldn't turn over, jumped starter relay, started right up. Ordered new relay and was checking polarity, nothing hooked to relay, when battery is hooked up to starter, starter spins, if you turn on key it runs. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[shadetree]

I have 1994 300 fourtrax, initial trouble no lights, starter wouldn't turn over, jumped starter relay, started right up. Ordered new relay and was checking polarity, nothing hooked to relay, when battery is hooked up to starter, starter spins, if you turn on key it runs. Any ideas? Thanks

if your hooking the battery straight to the starter ??..why I don't know ?..lol. then yes..the starter will run all the time. you have to have the starter cables hooked to the starter solenoid in order to cut power to the starter after the motor is running.

 

[ed.1963]

I mistyped. With relay completely unhooked, when I hook up the battery, the starter spins.

 

[Manny]

You must have your cables mixed up, make sure & trace the hot going from your battery - is your wire to the relay instead of to the starter?

 

[shadetree]

I mistyped. With relay completely unhooked, when I hook up the battery, the starter spins.

then your hooking the power cable lead straight to the starter. this is the only way the starter will spin is if your doing it this way. the starter solenoid is there for a reason !!..it acts like a light switch, when you press the starter button, power is sent to the starter solenoid, this power energizes the electro-magnet inside the solenoid, when this happens, the metal plate inside the starter solenoid raises up, makes contact inside it, herby connecting the hot power lead to the other side of the terminal, then the 12 volts goes to the starter to make it work.

 

[ed.1963]

I replaced solenoid, no other wiring changed. When battery cable is hooked up, starter spins. I tried to reverse hookup at solenoid because colors were different. Same result both ways.

 

[shadetree]

I replaced solenoid, no other wiring changed. When battery cable is hooked up, starter spins. I tried to reverse hookup at solenoid because colors were different. Same result both ways.

then you have a bad connection at the starter button !.

 

[Melatv]

Hi: Where did you put the 2 small wires on the solenoid -- they should be on with the cable from the pos. side of the battery.