Starter switch/solenoid contacts

imported post

Wellllll......that's a long story....


The problem is that dealers, mechanics and riders often confuse and interchange the terms.
Strictly speaking, there are 3 items:


1: The starter switch is the pushbutton on the right side of the handlebars


2: The solenoid, as most people call it, isn't really a solenoid at all. but rather a "relay". Sometimes it gets called the 'starter switch' or 'magnetic starter switch', but it isn't a switch either. It's just a relay. (Japanese and European manufacturers like to use differentnames for electrical things than we are accustomed to in North America). On most bikes it is located under one of the side covers, and never too far from the battery. On many cars it is a part of the starter motor, in which case it IS a solenoid because it has a different function on cars than it does on most motorcycles.



3. The starter motor is located usually under or at the side of the engine casing. Easy to locate usually because it has a rather large wire going to it, about the thickness of a pinky finger.

To find the starter relay, locate the + (plus) terminal on the battery and follow it along until it comes to a small module about the size of a large ice cube (or maybe 2 cubes). That is the starter relay (a.k.a solenoid). Another large wire will leave the relay and if you follow this down, it will take you to the starter motor.



p.s. Maybe we're neighbours