[Mattgre2018]

2014 Honda 500 fm1 : I replaced the starter motor. Put everything back together, charged battery, turned key on and hit starter button and it won’t start. Starter motor engages and turns over engine but it doesn’t want to catch. Now when I give the pull cord a haul it starts right up. With the charger hooked up I tried starting it several times and maybe 1 out of 10 it will catch and start the bike up. Just turns over forever . Also the dash seems to cut out and reset when I hit start button... checked fuses and replaced acc fuse already. Need some input...

 

[shadetree]

chances are, starter's one-way bearing is bad. if it '' catches '' here and there ?, then yes, the one-way bearing is bad. anytime it starts from the pull starter, but not the electric starter ?, this tells me your one-way starter bearing is bad. it at the back of the motor, behind the flywheel. in order to replace it, you must remove the back engine cover that holds the stator, you will need a rear cover gasket, and a flywheel puller tool to pop the flywheel off, bearing is sitting on, and behind the backside of the flywheel.

 

[shadetree]

or, is the electric starter turning the motor over ?, but the engine will not start ?. if this is the case ?, then sounds like the electric starter is not turning over fast enough to fire the engine off. pull the spark plug, with it in the boot, lay it on the engine use the electric starter, is plug sparking ?.

 

[shadetree]

and no, the display is not suppose to cut out when you push the start button. this tells me you have a short some where in the harness ?, or the display is bad ?. bad connection some where ?.

 

[Carolynskii]

The display will dim or blink when you hit the start button if the battery is weak.
You probaly just need a new battery. The bike starts off the battery and may have enough amps to start by pull start but using the starter may draw the amperage too much to start.
When you say "catches" that throws us off to starter gears. Do you mean turn over?
Got a video of it?

 

[misterclean59]

The display will dim or blink when you hit the start button if the battery is weak.
You probaly just need a new battery. The bike starts off the battery and may have enough amps to start by pull start but using the starter may draw the amperage too much to start.
When you say "catches" that throws us off to starter gears. Do you mean turn over?
Got a video of it?

I like this idea. Also Shade suggested bad connection somewhere. The first thing I thought of was a bad connection at the battery or the the battery ground at the frame is bad.

 

[Mattgre2018]

Ok thought about needing a new battery. That being said, wouldn’t it start if I had a battery charger hooked up ? And when I I say catch I mean the engine firing.

 

[Mattgre2018]

I have also cleaned all connections at battery , solenoid and starter.

 

[shadetree]

Ok thought about needing a new battery. That being said, wouldn’t it start if I had a battery charger hooked up ? And when I I say catch I mean the engine firing.

the starter has nothing to do with why it won't fire the spark plug, this is an electrical issue, not cranking issue.

 

[shadetree]

one more time, pull the spark plug, install in the coil/boot, lay the spark plug on the engine, crank it over, watch for spark at the plug, does it fire when doing it this way with the elec start ?, if you don't see a spark when pushing the elec start, EXCEPT WHEN YOU RELEASE THE BUTTON..YOU SEE A SPARK ?, then the c.d.i. is bad !.

 

[Carolynskii]

Not saying it isn't possible but I haven't heard of a PGM sometimes working and sometimes not on these newer bikes unless the plugs to it aren't in good but I've heard of a solenoid doing that.
I kinda want to commit to saying that the PGM is ok because it starts with a pull rope. I would start with a new battery or you'd need to at least test it under load which any parts house would do for ya.
Or jump it from your car directly to the atv battery touching the terminal connections and if it starts right then it's your battery. If it doesn't then jump it the opposite pole on the solenoid and see if it starts right if it does then it's your solenoid.
.... and no ... your bike won't start because the charger is hooked up unless it has It an engine start feature otherwise it only outputs usually 2, 10 or 15 amps depending on the type of battery.... in your case should only be 2.
And by the way, welcome to the forum!

 

[Mattgre2018]

Thanks! Glad I found this forum!!
Ok I have good spark. I narrowed it down to a bad ground/weak battery. Cleaned the ground on the frame as it was getting extremely warm seemed to help . I’ll be getting a new battery first of the week.
Thanks for the input !!

 

[retro]

Thanks for following up!

 

[jdp]

Thanks! Glad I found this forum!!
Ok I have good spark. I narrowed it down to a bad ground/weak battery. Cleaned the ground on the frame as it was getting extremely warm seemed to help . I’ll be getting a new battery first of the week.
Thanks for the input !!

I would put a battery tender on that new battery, They make a junior model that I been using for 3 years now.