This morning I went to start the bike (1982 shovel) and the bike failed to start. I released the starter button and the starter kept going! I hit the kill switch, turned off the ignition, yelled at it...and it kept running until the battery died.

I think that the starter solenoid must have stuck allowing juice from the battery to power the starter even after releasing the start button. I think that the starter is right off the battery and does not go through the ignition switch.

Does this seem plausible? Any other cause of this?

 

Sounds like the solenoid to me. I bet the solenoid points welded closed.

The battery is connected directly to on side of the solenoid so when it welded together the starter just keeps going. Xometimes a rap with a hammer on the solenoid will free it for awhile.

Should be an easy fix just by replacing it.

 

That is the direction I am going...solenoid.

With the battery out, the pos battery cable is shorted directly to ground. In the morning I will disconnect the pos lead off the solenoid and see if the short goes away.

Thanks.

 

rest of this discussion here ---> https://www.hdforums.com/forum/shovelhead/278498-runaway-starter.html (same thread in the shovelhead forum)

 

I agree with every body else.

 

LOL. thanks

 

It's not the solenoid. You have a solid state relay somewhere on the bike. It is black and about 1 inch square with a mounting tab on it and a wire harness plug with 4 wires coming off of it. It is a switch between your stater button and the solenoid. The starter button is not big enough to handle the amps required to start the bike so the relay is put in between. When this happens about the only thing to do is put the bike in 2nd gear and slowly let out the clutch and it will disengage the solenoid. When you get a new one either get it from HD or make sure it is not the Taiwan one. Happy Trails