[wrdabney]

My '99 fourtrax 300 will not start without using the kick start. when i press the start button I just hear a click. The click is coming from the starter switch that's mounted beside the battery. would replacing this switch do the trick or is there something else i should try first? Thanks for the help.

 

[Helmut]

My '99 fourtrax 300 will not start without using the kick start. when i press the start button I just hear a click. The click is coming from the starter switch that's mounted beside the battery. would replacing this switch do the trick or is there something else i should try first? Thanks for the help.

I would say it's the starter relay that you're speaking of. Make sure your battery is charged up and use an old screwdriver to jump the two terminal posts on the starter relay. If the starter turns, then your starter relay is bad. Make sure all the connections on your battery and on the starter relay are tight before you test it.

 

[wrdabney]

1999 Honda TRX300FW FOURTRAX 4X4 OEM Parts, 1999 Honda TRX300FW FOURTRAX 4X4 OEM Motorcycle Parts - BikeBandit.com
if you look at the diagram on this page number 12 is the part that is clicking. They call it the sw, starter magnetic. i tried jumping across the terminals on it and it didn't do anything. the battery and connections seem to be fine. when i start it with the kick starter it runs fine and the lights and everything work fine.

 

[88dawg44]

I agree with Helmut. Sometimes when you here the clicking that means the battery is dead or bad.

 

[Helmut]

1999 Honda TRX300FW FOURTRAX 4X4 OEM Parts, 1999 Honda TRX300FW FOURTRAX 4X4 OEM Motorcycle Parts - BikeBandit.com
if you look at the diagram on this page number 12 is the part that is clicking. They call it the sw, starter magnetic. i tried jumping across the terminals on it and it didn't do anything. the battery and connections seem to be fine. when i start it with the kick starter it runs fine and the lights and everything work fine.

Yeah, that's the part. You need to actually test the battery, because the ATV will run off the power of the stator(generator) and the lights will also work. You can take the battery out and it will still run and the lights will work.

If you're sure the battery is good and you jumped the terminals on the starter relay, then the starter is, more than likely bad. A quick test to check the starter is to get a set of jumper cables and hook them from the battery directly to the starter. Just hook the hot and ground on one end of the cables to the correct terminals on the battery and at the other end of the cables, hook the ground directly to the starter casing or the engine crankcase and then touch the hot to the hot terminal or post on the starter. If the battery is good, then the starter should turn. If not, the starter is bad.

Make sure your battery is good or none of these tests will do you any good.

 

[ET 300]

My '99 fourtrax 300 will not start without using the kick start. when i press the start button I just hear a click. The click is coming from the starter switch that's mounted beside the battery. would replacing this switch do the trick or is there something else i should try first? Thanks for the help.

My 300 is doing the same thing. I did my checks and found the starter is bad. Do not buy parts until you identify what is bad. First, you have to start with a good fully charged battery. The click that you hear is the starter relay that is next to the battery. Do a voltage test on the battery. It should be around 12V depending on condition. Connect a volt meter to the starter electrical terminal. Now turn ignition on and hit the starter switch. If the relay is good, you will read battery voltage at the starter terminal. This means your starter is the problem. If you do not read battery voltage at the starter terminal, the problem is the relay or maybe a wiring problem. A couple of more tests will help determine which.

Doing the direct feed to the starter as suggested will be a true test. Again all this requires a good battery. If you suspect the battery you can do the direct test using battery jumper cables and your car or truck battery.

 

[richtrom]

My '99 fourtrax 300 will not start without using the kick start. when i press the start button I just hear a click. The click is coming from the starter switch that's mounted beside the battery. would replacing this switch do the trick or is there something else i should try first? Thanks for the help.

I had similar problem, sounds like the starter, give it a couple light taps with a hammer. If it starts, replace it.

 

[Reece616]

I'm having a starting issue right now.
i performed all the tests explained in the thread.
When i jumped the relay i heard the starter go, and when i used jumper cables on the started it turned, (although with both tests the results weren't that strong and it didn't start.
I'm thinking it's my battery, since it started right up when jumped from my car.
Is it possible for the battery to be bad but still read fine on a multimeter for volts?

 

[Pain]

A battery will almost always read good when tested unless one of the cells is shorted, even if the battery is bad. You need to put the battery under load to test it.

 

[Reece616]

I see. Is there a way I can test it under load or would I just be better off bringing it to an auto parts store and having them test it?

 

[Pain]

Turn all the lights on or try to start it and check the voltage.

If it doesn't turn fast enough to start from the battery but does when jumped from your car, then it's your battery.

If you're sure it's fully charged and still won't start the machine, then just replace it.

 

[Helmut]

I agree with everything Pain has said about the issue. Sounds like you need a new battery.

 

[Reece616]

I just brought it down to advanced auto and had it tested.
It read 8 CCA, and told me to replace battery.
So i did.
The directions for it say to use a trickle charger for the initial charge.
I don't have one, so what should i do about charging it?

 

[Pain]

Drive it for 8 hours

Or, use a regular charger set on low setting. I don't think it would really do any harm.

 

[Helmut]

The directions for it say to use a trickle charger for the initial charge.
I don't have one, so what should i do about charging it?

If you have a battery charger with around a 2 amp setting, that will work fine.

I have a small battery charger with high and low. High is 10 amps and low is 2 amps. I just charge them on low and it works fine.

 

[Reece616]

alright.
thanks for the quick responses guys!