Wont Start

[refuelman]

Just got back on a trip from Oklahoma to Louisiana, cold and raining. On the 3rd day of cold and wet the trike would not start. It seems that the starter motor spin but will not crank. Also if I put the trike in reverse the reverse light comes on but nothing happens when I push the starter button. I had to have the trike trailered back home.

Need any ideas of possibilities and where to start.

I have had no problems up till now, the starter that I replaced is a year old.

 

[Jack Klarich]

The first thing to check is the battery voltage 12.7 = fully charged

Clean and tighten all the connections first

A dirty and loose connection is a BIG voltage drop

You need at least 12 volts @ the starter to spin over the engine, the ignition system needs a minimum of 10.5 volts to operate

Check the connections @ the starter also

Sounds like your starter went South

 

[Gideon]

Start with the basics.

What is the condition of your battery? Is it charged? Are the terminals loose or corroded?

 

[rhino 2]

If the starter just spins and won't crank, And its spinning at a fast pace, No clicking...

My money would be on the starter motor being bad, .....A weak battery you will hear clicking....

 

[refuelman]

Battery is like 2 years old connections are clean at battery, even tried using a jumper

Reading in the manual the reverse will not work with out the motor running DUH!!

I guess that is not an issue until I get the engine running again.

 

[rhino 2]

Battery is like 2 years old connections are clean at battery, even tried using a jumper

The starter you replaced , New or Rebuilt...:Shrug: I never had good luck with a rebuilt starter , In a car or a bike....

You can try this, Put the Trike in first gear, Cluch Engaged hit the starter, If the trike doesn't lurch forward , Its the starter...

 

[Jack Klarich]

Battery is like 2 years old connections are clean at battery, even tried using a jumper

Reading in the manual the reverse will not work with out the motor running DUH!!

I guess that is not an issue until I get the engine running again.

If you jumper the starter and it does not crank the engine the drive is not engaging

Do you have any warranty on that starter?

 

[Gold Rush]

Battery is like 2 years old connections are clean at battery, even tried using a jumper

Reading in the manual the reverse will not work with out the motor running DUH!!

I guess that is not an issue until I get the engine running again.

Did you actually check the battery output voltage in static and crank modes? I've seen batteries two months old do exactly what you are experiencing. :xszpv:

If you don't have a volt meter handy, you could also just jump the trike battery from a known good battery.

 

[Jack Klarich]

The starter you replaced , New or Rebuilt...:Shrug: I never had good luck with a rebuilt starter , In a car or a bike....

You can try this, Put the Trike in first gear, Cluch Engaged hit the starter, If the trike doesn't lurch forward , Its the starter...

Does it have a clutch safety switch?

If it does it may not engage the starter in gear?

 

[rhino 2]

Does it have a clutch safety switch?

If it does it may not engage the starter in gear?

Every bike [Two wheelers]except Harley, Victory....Don't know about Indian Thats ''Not'' made for export has the switch in the kickstand, Down kickstand no start in gear...

On Trike conversions Honda ETC....they are or should have been disabled... :Shrug:

 

[Gold Rush]

If starter is spinning at all, this in NOT the problem. :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[lgjhn]

Check the engine oil level. IF it’s low, the low oil cutoff switch could be keeping it from firing.

 

[pwhoever]

I know this may seem obvious, but did you check the kill switch? It may also be a bad kill switch and sometimes jiggling it will be enough to get the bike started.

 

[rhino 2]

I know this may seem obvious, but did you check the kill switch? It may also be a bad kill switch and sometimes jiggling it will be enough to get the bike started.

The OP Says the starter is spinning.....So its not that....Maybe when he finds the problem he'll let us know...??

 

[Gold Rush]

I thought we were talking about a HONDA GL1800 here...

 

[Sidecarbill]

Most hondas have a sprague (sp?) clutch. When they gets gummed up or the oil is cold they won't engage. Happens on my bike all the time. Course mine has a little thing thats called a kick starter, comes in handy in those situations. I don't know what happened to goldwing greg. He would know.

 

[1dn5up]

I’m confused in the conversation , if the starter spins, and the motor don’t crank, the engaging bendix went south :Shrug: on the starter.

 

[rhino 2]

I’m confused in the conversation , if the starter spins, and the motor don’t crank, the engaging bendix went south :Shrug: on the starter.

That would seem reasonable to me also...:Shrug:

 

[refuelman]

Ok, all good information. I have heard about the sprag(one way clutch). Reading on another form for Goldwing's it was suggested to remove spark plugs and push the bike in reverse/forward which would turn the engine and by chance would release and or unlock the one way clutch. Tired that with no luck. Will be going after the starter soon, to check for damage.

Again in neutral key on push the starter button and I hear a motor spinning noise, with the plugs out I put my thumb over one of the spark plug holes and no compression. So the engine is not turning.

Still open for any ideas.

Could the reverse cables be out of adjustment and or stuck causing this problem?

 

[Gold Rush]

Pretty convincing evidence. If starter is spinning and engine is not turning there is a mechanical issue in the starter/reduction gear assembly area. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[rhino 2]

Ok, all good information. I have heard about the sprag(one way clutch). Reading on another form for Goldwing's it was suggested to remove spark plugs and push the bike in reverse/forward which would turn the engine and by chance would release and or unlock the one way clutch. Tired that with no luck. Will be going after the starter soon, to check for damage.

Again in neutral key on push the starter button and I hear a motor spinning noise, with the plugs out I put my thumb over one of the spark plug holes and no compression. So the engine is not turning.

Still open for any ideas.

Could the reverse cables be out of adjustment and or stuck causing this problem?

Yea ' Replace the starter! Or have it rebuilt ' But like I said before I have no faith in rebuilt starters

 

[Sidecarbill]

There is no bendix in a honda starting system. Pull the starter and check for stripped splines or gear teeth.

 

[Gold Rush]

Hey Joe. I got to thinking about your issue and the more I thought, the harder time I had convincing myself your starter or reduction gear assembly is bad. As you said earlier the starter spins but the engine does on turn over.

So, I did some research in my service manual. The reduction assembly is a bunch of gears so unless one of them stripped or the key sheered I don't see that being the problem. Here is a copy and paste from the 2006 service manual. My 2015 manual is not on the computer so it's just easier to reference the '06 version.



Starter/reverse motor turns, but engine does not turn• Faulty starter clutch (page 11-15)

Problem is this clutch in internal to the engine. Hopefully I'm wrong and you discover some external failure. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[trike tech]

I may be out of line or dead wrong here, but I'd strongly suggest removing the starter & verifying it's actually turning where the "magic happens" (the end gear section you see with the starter removed from the rear case).

There is an internal gear reduction & splined shaft that slides into the end of the stater gear that actually turns the motor (see attached image circled in red). Seen starters "go bad" a few times for various reasons. The round gear inside the case you see with the starter removed (just off to the side) is part of the reverse mechanism & doesn't have any bearing on the motorcycle starting (circled yellow part is what engages the reverse).

 

[Gold Rush]

I may be out of line or dead wrong here, but I'd strongly suggest removing the starter & verifying it's actually turning where the "magic happens" (the end gear section you see with the starter removed from the rear case).

There is an internal gear reduction & splined shaft that slides into the end of the stater gear that actually turns the motor (see attached image circled in red). Seen starters "go bad" a few times for various reasons. The round gear inside the case you see with the starter removed (just off to the side) is part of the reverse mechanism & doesn't have any bearing on the motorcycle starting (circled yellow part is what engages the reverse).



View attachment 56448

THAT IS WHAT I WAS MISSING!!! I was sure I'd seen something else but when I went looking again the obvious evaded me "AGAIN". :xzqxz: That piece is the External one that just may be the real culprit!

 

[rhino 2]

Bendix Gear, Not to be confused with a Bendix Spring.....

 

[John Luciano]

Yes. What you have is something to do with your reverse. A friend had his Rev switch get stuck and it sounds like the same issue u have.

a solenoids ( relay ) only make the starter spin. He has spin . He has no engage. I forget what year ? You mention cable. Tells me 1999 or older

I never see a year mentioned. You are all assuming 2006. Did I miss it ?