Commando Mk3 starter solenoid replacement; any sources?

rick in seattle · Wednesday at 12:02 PM

Hi All; it's been a while.

Anyone have a source(s) for a solenoid replacement for my Mk3? I found a plug-in replacement 12 years ago when I built up the bike, but I'm coming up dry. Looks like the output and input 12v contacts are fused together, following a routine start-up- a very scary situation. My Norton is negative ground, and I'm using a Dave C starter. My handle still references Seattle, but my ass, Norton, and my Victor are all now comfortably together in mid-coast Maine.

Best,

Rick

cliffa · Wednesday at 1:37 PM

rick in seattle said:
Hi All; it's been a while.

Anyone have a source(s) for a solenoid replacement for my Mk3? I found a plug-in replacement 12 years ago when I built up the bike, but I'm coming up dry. Looks like the output and input 12v contacts are fused together, following a routine start-up- a very scary situation. My Norton is negative ground, and I'm using a Dave C starter. My handle still references Seattle, but my ass, Norton, and my Victor are all now comfortably together in mid-coast Maine.

Best,

Rick

Have you tried Greg Marsh?

If not, any 12v solenoid should work.

Was the original the same as some Harleys?

cliffa · 2026-07-02T14:54:27-0600

Post in thread 'Solenoid getting old.'

Nov 7, 2020

vidar hjelm johansen said:
I opened mine, sanded over the connectors, and put it all back together.
It worked perfectly. No problem.
Vidar

Yup I did that too , seeing as there were no rivets, just undid the bolts'n' nuts and sanded down the burnt contacts.
BUT... the tiny ground wire (soldered) ? to the top plate , broke off at the plate itself. Seeing as I have new now I put it in a ziplock for someone else to repair after I'm dead n' gone.
A friend showed me a solenoid trick if it ever fails on the side of the road. Simply use a screwdriver as a bridge to lay across the 2 big terminals to complete the...

850MKIII · 2026-07-02T16:08:57-0600

cliffa said:
Have you tried Greg Marsh?

If not, any 12v solenoid should work.

Was the original the same as some Harleys?

agree ... any solenoid will work, I've used a Honda part previously (about 1/3 the size of the original)

Torontonian · 2026-07-02T17:02:18-0600

cliffa said:
Have you tried Greg Marsh?

If not, any 12v solenoid should work.

Was the original the same as some Harleys?

I just went to Canadian tire or Parts Source or NAPA has cheap ones too . Easy Peasy better , much cheaper , more reliable replacement .
Who's going to pull the sidecover to check authenticity at a show n' shine anyways ?

Commando Mk3 starter solenoid replacement; any sources?

rick in seattle

cliffa

cliffa

Post in thread 'Solenoid getting old.'

850MKIII

Torontonian

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