winterwalker
YaBB Newbies
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Posts: 25
Portland, OR
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Hi folks, after much searching of the forums and pouring over similar issues with no luck, I guess it's time to post my own starting issue here. I'm stuck.
The long and short of it is: the bike won't start up at all. I had it in to a mechanic for the well known head gasket leak issue (starting and running without a problem mind you), when I got a call from them saying that the starter was kaput and would need to be replaced to the tune of $500 plus labor. Well, I took the bike back, replaced both the starter motor and relay solenoid myself for good measure (both new parts checked out fine) and still no joy.
Symptoms: with the battery charged up and on the bike, lights all come on and look good. When I pull the clutch and hit the starter switch, all the lights dim significantly, and there's a single loud *click* from the starter relay. At one point there was a loud buzzing from the relay instead of a click, but that seems to have disappeared - think that was a combination of old starter/new relay or new starter/old relay... can't remember which.
I've had both an old battery (which I know worked in the past) and a brand new AGM from Autozone on a tender, fully charged, and can't get the engine to turn over with either.
I've pulled the spark plug to give a visual check and as far as I can tell, it looks good - doesn't appear to be bridged, worn, or otherwise fouled, but gave it a quick cleaning just in case. I carried out the spark test by holding the base of the plug against the engine body, but instead of the "fat blue spark" that folks have said means things check out, I either get a very weak spark across the gap, or no spark at all. Is this indicative of a bad plug or an issue elsewhere?
That's as far as I've gotten, and I'm not exactly sure where to go from here. Any help or advice would be much appreciated!
Thank you in advance!
-Dave
EDIT: I should mention, the bike is a 2001 with about 3300 miles - 2000 of which I put on. I bought it 3rd hand, but very gently used.
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