1975 850 MK3 nothing from ES button?

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Hi inmates!,

I haven't been out on the Norton for a while.

Did my usual commissioning the day before, drained sump, drained petrol & put fresh in, charged battery.
Started bike on the bench & warmed it up, everything seemed fine.

Put the charger back on last night just to give it another zap. I remove the main fuse when I'm charging to isolate the battery.

This morning, pushed the bike out all ready to go & nothing from the starter button? I have full lights, indicators and ignition light is on.

When I hit the starter button there is absalutely nothing, I 'wiggled' the button & checked the kill switch was in the middle, off, position. I also 'wiggled' the kill switch but again absolutely nothing.

I did a basic check of the starter system wiring & the main fuse & everything seems OK.

I'm leaning more towards the switch, kill switch and or starter button anything else I should look at before I turn this into a 'project'!!!
 
What make of solenoid is fitted? The OEM prestolite solenoid is crap. I've had two fail. If it is knackered, the Lucas one (for a Mini) fits and is sold by AN, and is cheaper than a prestolite
 
click said:
Hi inmates!,

I haven't been out on the Norton for a while.

Did my usual commissioning the day before, drained sump, drained petrol & put fresh in, charged battery.
Started bike on the bench & warmed it up, everything seemed fine.

Put the charger back on last night just to give it another zap. I remove the main fuse when I'm charging to isolate the battery.

This morning, pushed the bike out all ready to go & nothing from the starter button? I have full lights, indicators and ignition light is on.

When I hit the starter button there is absalutely nothing, I 'wiggled' the button & checked the kill switch was in the middle, off, position. I also 'wiggled' the kill switch but again absolutely nothing.

I did a basic check of the starter system wiring & the main fuse & everything seems OK.

I'm leaning more towards the switch, kill switch and or starter button anything else I should look at before I turn this into a 'project'!!!
Click to expand...
The kill button has nothing to do with the electric starter.

Listen carefully for the solenoid to click. If it clicks, it's likely bad or the wiring from it to the starter motor is making a bad connection. If it does not click, then connect a voltmeter from ground to the small terminal on the solenoid with the White/Red wire. Push the button. If you get 12 volts then the solenoid is bad. If not, then the start button or its wiring is bad. The circuit is: White wire -> Button -> White/Red wire -> solenoid. If wired normally, there are connections under the tank involved. Find the cable from the console with the start button. Make sure the white wire has 12 volts with the ignition on. If so, check the White/Red at that connection and push the button. If the voltage is not the same as the white wire, then the button is not making contact correctly. If it is, then there is a break between there and the solenoid.
 
dobba99 said:
What make of solenoid is fitted? The OEM prestolite solenoid is crap. I've had two fail. If it is knackered, the Lucas one (for a Mini) fits and is sold by AN, and is cheaper than a prestolite
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply & info.
 
marshg246 said:
The kill button has nothing to do with the electric starter.

Listen carefully for the solenoid to click. If it clicks, it's likely bad or the wiring from it to the starter motor is making a bad connection. If it does not click, then connect a voltmeter from ground to the small terminal on the solenoid with the White/Red wire. Push the button. If you get 12 volts then the solenoid is bad. If not, then the start button or its wiring is bad. The circuit is: White wire -> Button -> White/Red wire -> solenoid. If wired normally, there are connections under the tank involved. Find the cable from the console with the start button. Make sure the white wire has 12 volts with the ignition on. If so, check the White/Red at that connection and push the button. If the voltage is not the same as the white wire, then the button is not making contact correctly. If it is, then there is a break between there and the solenoid.
Click to expand...
As always, many thanks for all this useful info 👍 I'll take my time this evening & go into problem solve mode with the info. you have given.
Interesting that the kill switch has nothing to do with the ES, does this mean if you have the kill switch 'on' the ES will still work?

It's got to be something simple!! as it was running fine on the bench yesterday but like all things old, including humans!!, one thing can lead to another . . . . . . . . .

More anon!
 
click said:
As always, many thanks for all this useful info 👍 I'll take my time this evening & go into problem solve mode with the info. you have given.
Interesting that the kill switch has nothing to do with the ES, does this mean if you have the kill switch 'on' the ES will still work?

It's got to be something simple!! as it was running fine on the bench yesterday but like all things old, including humans!!, one thing can lead to another . . . . . . . . .

More anon!
Click to expand...
The kill switch basically removes power from the ignition when not in the run position. If bad the bike won't fire but it does not stop the starter from working. You can ensure that only the starter, solenoid and/or their circuits have a problem by kick starting. If it starts and runs, you only need to get the starter working.

BTW, some MK3s have more fuses in the headlight shell - I don't remember what they control and doubt that they have anything to do with your problem, but if you have them, check them.
 
OK . . . . . . .

No click from Solenide.

Small connector going to solenoid (red/white wire) was broken & very loose, so I replaced this but still no luck.

Checked voltage at small connector at solenoid, pressing started button, no voltage.

Opened headlamp to see if there was any extra fuses just in case, no fuses.

I did find the connector with the red/white wire coming to/from the switch but no power at this connector?

I then traced the wire coming from the headlamp shell to the switch & winner winner chicken dinner!!!

1975 850 MK3 nothing from ES button?

Cable got snagged in the steering bump stop & severed the cable!!

Need to do some splicing & repair the connections.

Thanks Greg for guiding me through this, I'll update when I have the work done.
 
Cut the cable & stripped back all the wires & connected them temporally with crocodile clips & the starter is spinning.

Just need to get the soldering iron out & lots of heat shrink to seal everything together.

One other question, does this solenoid look like the original or a replacement?

1975 850 MK3 nothing from ES button?
1975 850 MK3 nothing from ES button?
1975 850 MK3 nothing from ES button?
 
Small update. Soldered all 4 wires together & used heat shrink on them.

I'll probably use self amalgamating tape on each cable as well & use heat shrink over the whole lot with some more self amalgamating tape!!

Maybe overkill but I want this repair to outlast me!!!:D

2D7F4717-D9E1-4B84-BC59-D90850E633E4.jpeg
 
Fast Eddie said:
Put a cut piece of cable tie along the length of that repair area and heat shrink it in, it acts like a splint and provides flexible support to soldered connections that can otherwise suffer with vibration and movement.
Click to expand...

Great suggestion, that's now done.

All the repair work is finished and everything seems fine, starter whirring around!!

Many thanks to dobba99, marshg246, L.A.B. and Fast Eddie, it takes a village 👍 👍:D
 

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