Starter engages when connecting battery on SSR Pacifica 150 By dannytroy (Read 518 times)

[dannytroy]

The bike was sitting unused about a week or so.  Ran great when I last used it.  Tonight I hopped on, turned the ignition key on, engaged the starter and within a few seconds I lost all electrical power.  I checked the battery (a 3 month old Delfran Battery Tender lithium) and it read 5 volts!  I put a standard gel cell in (the original battery) and when I touched the battery cable to the terminal, it would engage the starter motor.  This is without the ignition on.  I fiddled with the starter button, thinking somehow it went bad, but that didn't correct it.  Any ideas???

[cyborg]

I would think the solenoid is suspect

[dannytroy]

Yes, after I posted I did a Google search and found the solenoid is the likely suspect. I took off the inner cowling to get to the solenoid and I might have tapped it enough to get it working again. I thought I'd attempt to disassemble it to see if anything is binding, and of course I broke one of the wires on the coil. Cheap enough to just put a new solenoid in. To hold me over while I wait for the delivery I made a temporary solenoid, using a relay I had on hand for an electric bike.

It works fine.  Now I just have to get Delfran to honor their lithium battery warranty.

[jct842]

Before jumping all over delfran check your charging circuit. They will want to know what the voltage is idling and at 5-6000 rpm.

[dannytroy]

They were very accommodating, and just told me to send it back for a replacement. They really didn't ask any questions about how I use it. It's a three year warranty, so I guess they felt at only two months they wouldn't give me a hard time. My charging circuit seems to be ok, and is at least 13 volts when underway.