"Won't start" hat trick!

[Jallen3.14]

And just when my car is down.

Haven't been able to ride much but went to start the '05 Classic yesterday and it powered up, needles danced, fuel pump whirred, but no joy when I hit the start switch. Not so much as a click, and the lights didn't go out. It did this once last time I rode it - I fiddled the key and flicked the kickstand and cycled the clutch lever and put it in gear and back in neutral several times and it fired right up. It was fine for the several additional starts that day.

It warned me, but I didn't heed it. After sitting a couple weeks now its done it again and none of those things helped. Let me know if I'm looking in the wrong direction, but I'm suspecting either one of the safety switches - clutch, neutral, or kickstand, the go button itself, or the starter relay.

Any suggestions on where I should start trouble shooting? Any good ways to bypass those safety switches so I can get mobile while I wait for parts?

Thanks in advance to the brain trust!

Joe

 

[Pete]

can you hear a click from under the seat (start solenoid) when you hit the start button ?

 

[Jallen3.14]

can you hear a click from under the seat (start solenoid) when you hit the start button ?

Pretty sure no - I'll pull the seat off to verify, but I didn't hear anything at all.

 

[2023R3GT]

battery possibly
do you use a battery maintainer when not in use for a while?
have you tried jumpers?

 

[R-III-R Turbo]

Do you have TuneECU / TuneBoy / Dealer Tool?
If so, you can use it to see what switches are doing what when you move them.

Also, has your bike received a headlight relay kit?

 

[atomsplitter]

My guess is if no headlight relay installed the ignition barrel has desoldered. Common problem on the pre-2010 models as the factory routed headlight power thru the ignition switch (boo) causing the contacts to come loose from overheating. I'd first start with the obvious start relays before tearing your ignition barrel apart.

 

[Jallen3.14]

battery possibly
do you use a battery maintainer when not in use for a while?
have you tried jumpers?

Usually, but didn't expect to be down this long. Even so, when it happened a couple weeks ago, once it came to life, it fired up as soon as the starter engaged. I'll check the voltage though, and try a jump.

Do you have TuneECU / TuneBoy / Dealer Tool?
If so, you can use it to see what switches are doing what when you move them.

The PO had lost the cable and, since the bike runs perfectly, I never bothered messing with it. Now i realize it could be a powerful diagnostic tool. Where can I get the cable and software?

My guess is if no headlight relay installed the ignition barrel has desoldered. Common problem on the pre-2010 models as the factory routed headlight power thru the ignition switch (boo) causing the contacts to come loose from overheating.

If that's the case would the headlight still be on?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[R-III-R Turbo]

Usually, but didn't expect to be down this long. Even so, when it happened a couple weeks ago, once it came to life, it fired up as soon as the starter engaged. I'll check the voltage though, and try a jump.


The PO had lost the cable and, since the bike runs perfectly, I never bothered messing with it. Now i realize it could be a powerful diagnostic tool. Where can I get the cable and software?


If that's the case would the headlight still be on?

Thanks,
Joe

Only get the cable from www.lonelec.com. You can download the Windows version of TuneECU via my signature.

If your bike doesn't have a headlight relay update - this could be a problem.

 

[Jallen3.14]

Only get the cable from www.lonelec.com. You can download the Windows version of TuneECU via my signature.

If your bike doesn't have a headlight relay update - this could be a problem.

I doubt it has the relay. How would I be able to tell? Was that an aftermarket mod, or a factory update?

I tried to download the software, but got a "You don't have permission to view this page" message.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[R-III-R Turbo]

Something in the website structure must've changed since, link is updated now

For the 04 - 09 Rockets, the headlight relay was an aftermarket add on. For Roadsters it came as stock (well, there was a recall on early Roadsters to fit it but it was standard from around 2011 on)