1981, 1100 starting troubles

[mightythordog]

Have owned this bike 32 out of its 35 years. But this has me scratching my head. End of season 2015 (live in Wisconsin) the starter died, I knew it was on its last leg and was hoping it would last and almost did. Not rebuildable, so took the one off a parts bike (that works,had it going 2 weeks before) and nothing or sometimes crank, sometimes start and sometimes start by its self. So, tried solenoid off parts bike. Same result. Bought brand new starter and solenoid, same result.

So, right now I have a bike that starts by its self (yes, key off, no one touching it) or just whines or spins and in a good moment STARTS UP! Before the starter burnout, everything was wonderful. There was peace and harmony in my world.

Battery fully charged (did all the tests)
Not fuel locked

And am working on checking all wires and connections now.

HELP!!! IDEAS?????

 

[brianinpa]

Key off and no one touching it is what has me baffled...

 

[Denver]

Haunted? :shock: Sounds like a short, bare or burned wire, or connector malfunction? :headscratch:

 

[Terry]

You got yourself a voodoo BLACK MAGIC bike right there.

Mind of it's own, spooky.

Sorry to joke on ya,
I have no actual helpful advise. (insert shoulder shrugging smiley here)

 

[slabghost]

Sounds like the feed wire to the start solenoid is shorted to another power wire at some point. Have you possibly pinched some wires installing the false tank or such?

 

[slabghost]

Does it actually run or just crank over?

 

[mightythordog]

I have done nothing but starter and solenoid. And after 32 years I can do those in my sleep. Never have done anything with tank, thank God. Wiring, has to be wiring.

 

[mightythordog]

It will start sometimes, or just spin. Hard starting. Very odd, because before this and it whole life very easy starter. When cold ( below 32°) might take a bit more. But than again, so do I.

 

[chilidawg]

You've got to have messed up around that solenoid somehow.

It's where the all those wires that would do that come closest together, and the location of a permanent hot.

Here's a diagram, I know it's an 83 schematic but that part is all much the same on all models, and the 83 shows it clearer.

Or maybe you just bought a messed up solenoid.

 

[zman]

something is shorting the solenoid to start, I would trace the small wires from the solenoid, something is putting power to the small 12V wire. not sure which is the power 12V but study a schematic and trace back from the solenoid.
Also have heard some aftermarket solenoids have a different wiring hookup then the stock ones.

 

[chilidawg]

But for it to be actually firing up with the key off, you've got to be feeding power to the ignition system, which is nowhere near the solenoid.

Sounds to me you might have 2 problems, the solenoid for sure and the ignition switch wiring, check the wiring in the back of the headlamp if its a standard or behind the counterweight if its a dresser. I've known a few guys whose bikes have done all kinds of crazy stuff on account of those wires, including mine.