[olrobo]

I recently bought a 2001 TRX350FM. It would not start with the electric starter - it would pull-start and run fine. The solenoid was clicking. I replaced the battery and got a new solenoid. After putting the battery in - I noticed I had no "neutral light" - the 25 amp fuse on the right side of the fuse-box had blown. I replaced that - had the neutral light and the oil-temp light back. The solenoid just clicked. I pulled the pull start once and it fired. I noticed the neutral light was out again. I checked and the 25 amp fuse had blown again. After replacing the solenoid, I put the battery back in and the 25 amp fuse blew again - immediately. It continue to blow. Obviously I have a short. Every time I put a fuse in, it blows. My question...where/what is the most logical place and how to check to narrow it down. I've been tracing back individual wires - I see no breaks or disconnects. The ignition is off and the key is out.

 

[Goober]

Best thing is to look at the wiring schematic in the manual. Troubleshoot that 25 amp circuit you have a short to ground there. Could be your battery cable rubbing on a frame member. Look for melted insulation on cables

My bet you have a melted insulation in your starter cable

 

[fishfiles]

I had that same fuse blowing on my 2002 450 , it was the solenoid that was blowing it , the way I found the problem was by taking the fuse out , putting the leads of the test meter into the fuse holder slots , set the meter to ohm's , if it has a short the needle will move , start disconnection things till the meter goes back to nothing , it will save you a lot of wasted fuses , but it sounds like in your case it doesn't blow till the starter button is pushed , I'd betit is the solenoid , is it a china solenoid

 

[shadetree]

have a look at the ignition switch on the dash. currently rebuilding the same atv as yours, the ignition switch wires under the bottom of the switch was rubbed/burned in half on about 3 wires, soooo..check the ignition switch !. just pray your shift drum isn't bad ?..lol. these years are very prone to have the end break off that moves the neutral/reverse switch !. this is what i'm dealing with right now, got another shift drum in the case right now.

 

[olrobo]

I'll check that! It was blowing before I put the new solenoid in. It blows as soon as I put the fuse in - with the ignition off and the key out.

 

[fishfiles]

get the wiring diagram , find the things that are on that fuse , disconnect one plug at a time , when it quits blowing the fuse you are in the right area