I have a problem try to sart the atv with the electric start... whrn I push the button the cable on the starter glows red wat the connection like its grounding and not blowing a fuse....anyone have this issue before??? I can take the starter cable and touch it the battery and crank it with the starter no problem. are the cables on backwards at the solenoid??
86 honda 250 electric issue
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Has the electric start ever worked wired like this before?
I can guess about the physics of the electrical connection. The wire is getting hot and glowing red because it's drawing too much current. The fact that it's not blowing a fuse is because, of course, it's not drawing enough current to actually blow the fuse. That leads me to believe the wire is the wrong size....or, the fuse is the wrong size.
If the wire is the wrong size, then it could be dropping too much voltage, preventing the starter from actually turning, yet pulling enough current to get red hot.
If the fuse is the wrong size, well, that's bad.
ADDED: No, there is no fuse in the starter circuit, it draws too much current for that. This is explained in later posts.
I can guess about the physics of the electrical connection. The wire is getting hot and glowing red because it's drawing too much current. The fact that it's not blowing a fuse is because, of course, it's not drawing enough current to actually blow the fuse. That leads me to believe the wire is the wrong size....or, the fuse is the wrong size.
If the wire is the wrong size, then it could be dropping too much voltage, preventing the starter from actually turning, yet pulling enough current to get red hot.
If the fuse is the wrong size, well, that's bad.
ADDED: No, there is no fuse in the starter circuit, it draws too much current for that. This is explained in later posts.
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Or the simple solution grab a manual look at the schematic for the start and trace out your wires to make sure you didnt cross something which is what is sounds like to me you have the ignition wire on the start terminal and when you hit the button to close the contacts you are actually backfeeding current and it has no where to go.
I dont know if the electric start worked at all before, I did replace the solenoid but I am 99% sure I put it back on correctly, the only thing different is I used a ford solenoid instead of a honda solenoid....maybe thats the issue?? I dont see how it could be since they are both 12volt systems. The battery cables look to the appropriate size. I have used a manual and it looks corerct according to the wiring diagram...I guess I can swap the cables around on the solenoid and try that. I just didn't want to do that if it would cause more damage.Has the electric start ever worked wired like this before?
I can guess about the physics of the electrical connection. The wire is getting hot and glowing red because it's drawing too much current. The fact that it's not blowing a fuse is because, of course, it's not drawing enough current to actually blow the fuse. That leads me to believe the wire is the wrong size....or, the fuse is the wrong size.
If the wire is the wrong size, then it could be dropping too much voltage, preventing the starter from actually turning, yet pulling enough current to get red hot.
If the fuse is the wrong size, well, that's bad.
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12v is 12 v, Just make sure you are correct on your wiring.one big terminal of solenoid to battery and starter the other to your starter ignition wire (small terminal on the starter) The wire from your key switch will connect to the "S" terminal on the solenoid if the starter is equipped with an "I" terminal (can't remember on the hondas) that will connect to the "+" terminal on the coil.
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You mean more damage than using a Ford solenoid instead of a Honda?
I can't really say for sure, but if it were me, I'd at least use a motorcycle solenoid, but that's just me.
ADDED: I put me thinking cap on, and thought of what could be wrong. Tell me, which wire glows red?
The only reason a wire is going to glow red is because it's carrying a large amount of current, much more than the system is designed to carry. So, why is it carrying too much current, other than the obvious that it's hooked up wrong. A 12v solenoid might work on another 12v system, or it might not.
The reason is that the resistance of the coil might be much different. Lets say the resistance of the Honda solenoid coil is 100 ohms, just for giggles. On a 12v system, that coil will draw 12/100 or .12 amps.
Now, lets say the ford coil is 10 ohms. 12/10 is 1.2 amps. A factor of 10 more current. And if it's 1 ohm, you're pulling 12 amps. That might be way too much.
1.2 amps is still a small amount of current in the big picture and wouldn't cause any wire to glow [unless it was a very small wire], so there must be something else wrong and I would do what 2five0 said and check the wiring, but I'd still want to know the difference between the solenoids before I just arbitrarily put a different one on there. Again, that's just me.
ADDED again: This is all about the low current side of the circuit, not the starter side of the circuit.
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I don't think he will harm anything just for testing purposes, I had an old XR200 and the coil went out so I put a coil from an 86 ford escort on it and i rode for about 2 years like that. Mounting it was a bit of a Bit** lol but it worked. I think his issues are going to lie in the button or key switch or a chaffed wire grounding out somewhere. just guessing. It's reall difficult diagnosing a machine without physically looking at it.
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So the big fat starter cable is glowing red, not the smaller wire from the button?
It's hooked up wrong, obviously. There is no fuse in that starter circuit because it pulls too much current for a fuse. There might be a fusable link in there, but it's essentially a straight pipe to the battery and something aint connected right. When you push the button, you're throwing a screw driver across the battery terminals, effectively.
Battery might go boom.
It's hooked up wrong, obviously. There is no fuse in that starter circuit because it pulls too much current for a fuse. There might be a fusable link in there, but it's essentially a straight pipe to the battery and something aint connected right. When you push the button, you're throwing a screw driver across the battery terminals, effectively.
Battery might go boom.
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Agreed^^^^ if the large wire is glowing you are definitely crossed up somewhere. the battery wire and the big wire from the starter are on the same post(on the solenoid). If you can jump the solenoid and start your solenoid isnt the issue (most of the time) you got wiring or button problems.
ADDED: See my above post for solenoid wiring
ADDED: See my above post for solenoid wiring
That is correct... the large gauge wire is glowing red at the starter(not on the solenoid) when I push the start button, I 'll check the wiring again, like I said I'm 99% sure its right, but u never know!! I think I may put the old solenoid back on and see what happens. Originally I changed it b/c nothing would happen not even a click when I pushed the start button... come to find out it was a grounding Issue with the solenoid, so maybe the original one is still working, I'll give that a shot.
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Though the other solenoid might also work, I think using the Honda part is a good choice. However, it can't be hooked up correctly now, else it wouldn't be glow red. That's the first indication of a problem
Here's the situation. You know the starter works, cause you can jump it and it starts. You know the button works, cause when you push it and the starter wire starts glowing red, which also means the solenoid works too. That leaves one other thing. The wiring.
Here's the situation. You know the starter works, cause you can jump it and it starts. You know the button works, cause when you push it and the starter wire starts glowing red, which also means the solenoid works too. That leaves one other thing. The wiring.
agreed... I guess the starter cable and battery cable are on the wrong post..I'll switch them and see what happens....hopefully this will fix it. thanks for everyones input... My initial thought was mayb they were n backwards too... but then I thought it might not get juice to the starter if they were backwards.Though the other solenoid might also work, I think using the Honda part is a good choice. However, it can't be hooked up correctly now, else it wouldn't be glow red. That's the first indication of a problem
Here's the situation. You know the starter works, cause you can jump it and it starts. You know the button works, cause when you push it and the starter wire starts glowing red, which also means the solenoid works too. That leaves one other thing. The wiring.
I don't think you can wire the starter backwards it only has one post and it's from the starter to the solenoid... so the only place it can wired wrong is on the solenoid maybe it's on the battery post instead of the stater post... I'll let you guys know one way or the other!
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