im working on my friends bike today and the starter is dead. no click, no nothin. it has the plunger switch right on the starter and it did not have the regular tension on it. i took off the primary and the jackshaft was hanging up. i freed it up and got the "spring" back in the plunger. there is 12v to the starter. you push in the plunger it sends 12v to the starter motor but nothing happens. from what i understand the plunger setup bypasses the start switch and the relay. after a few minutes trying to start it the jackshaft was getting hung up again. i took the endcap off the starter and it turns free and the brushes look good. is it time for a rebuild?

thanks in advance..

wildbill

 

I'm not familiar with your year of bike but it's possible that you only need a starter solenoid rebuild kit. If the plunger's movement is being restricted, the high current contacts in the solenoid may not be making good electical contact preventing the starter motor to run. I've had to rebuild my solenoid a couple of times now with 42000 miles on bike.

 

Maybe a weak battery ?

 

Check for a good clean connection on the battery cables. If that dosen't work. Take the starter to a local rebuilder and they will probably check it for free. Just my $.02/

 

when you push the plunger in the brass contact on the bottom of the solenoid provides 12v to the starter. im pretty sure the solenoid isnt an issue if the starter motor is seeing 12v. the starter itself is not turning or making any noise whatsoever. i even used a jumper wire from the battery+ to the starter terminal. thanks for the input
wbxIII