85 250es starts off kicker not e-start batt is good and starter

[dougspcs]

If you were closer to me I would buy it for the right price, or just swap parts/check connections with all of my spares.

Then sell it to me..oops my hoarding just flared up! Best go take my pills...wait, I don't take pills!!

[ps2fixer]

Then sell it to me..oops my hoarding just flared up! Best go take my pills...wait, I don't take pills!!

How about you buy it, bring it to me and we get it fixed up? We could split profits (if resold) lol.

[rouseanator]

um dude just saying that in my case i thought the solenoid wasn't working cause if it had a bad one the estart wouldn't work but it did work with a screw driver could have been a bad solenoid if a switch wasn't working but you bypass it, it should work..... but mine had the same symptoms would kick start easy but estart wouldn't and end result it was the key switch bypassed that switch by cutting the wires and puting the run wires together it worked and that let me know when it worked it was safe to order a new key work

Umm, dude..of course it will do this..the solenoid is basically a big switch triggered by the starter button sending heavy current to the start..

You hit the two big contacts with a screw driver you are shorting the current directly to the starter..this is an old backyard mechanic test to see if the reason you engine won't crank is in anyway starter switch related..

[honda4h]

i'm going to try another switch i have 3 or 4 lying around. but i tried the e-starter with the plug out i have a nice blue spark it should start its got gas. i put it in no start.a kick it starts up. i'm thinking compression the kick may be faster/quicker. then the e-start and yes the starter is strong i tried it on my other big red. swapped them etc. pic of the trouble maker

[tri again]

Come to think of it, I had one that really wanted to be on compression stroke for kicking
and would start instantly.
But the starter would spin great and nothing would happen even tho I had spark and fuel like you mention. Might have been an 84 es as I recall.

I've got an 87 that will kick fire every time and will estart when I let OFF the starter button
if the engine is still spinning a little.

Guess it's time to get out there and see what I can figure out.

[dougspcs]

Well my brother brought his trike in for it's big maintenance..great looking machine, mostly formality but I tore into everything to clean and check the machine top to bottom.

Besides the starting issue that some of you others have had..

Anyway, I saw nothing out of the ordinary on this trike..battery, ignition, starter circuit..all good.

The carb had been removed and cleaned by the PO, but I took it out just the same. It was pretty clean but two things jumped out at me, 1st the intake boot clamp was pretty loose during disassemble. 2nd, while blowing out the carb jets a small spider nest flew out of one of the jets..

Once reinstalled it's starts and runs perfectly..on Estart.

Not to say that this is the only possible cause of this symptom, but I hope this gives you guys another you guys hints where to look.

[HamboneKS]

guess I'm reviving an old thread here, but no one ever seemed to solve this one. Now I'm having the exact same issue posed by the OP.

It will only start on e-start after letting off the starter button, if the engine has enough momentum to roll over and fire with the start button disengaged.

any new thoughts on this?

[ps2fixer]

I didn't reread the thread, but if the starter is drawing so much to hinder the ignition system, prime targets would be weak/low battery (try jumper cables to your car battery if possible), weak ignition (cdi or coil), or the starter's getting worn and is drawing excess power even though it spins fast enough. Another thing could be wiring and connection quality which I guess the starter solenoid could fall into this category if it's internal contacts are getting worn out.

[RUNMEDOWN]

I have a similar issue; my 250es fires first kick but after adding a new battery it would not electric start turns out I popped the little weird shaped fuse. I ordered new ones but I jumped the fuse block the lights came on but still no electric start. One odd thing; without the fuse block jumped the headlight would dim when the engine was revved. That is the opposite of my non-battery ATCs

[HamboneKS]

So I was riding it without electric start or even a battery, and it did the same thing where the light would dim when I revved it up. I was bored at work the other day so I read the trouble shooting section in the manual (found a copy here online) and it actually had 3 possible causes of " electric starter cranks but bike won't fire". One possible cause was a bad kill switch. No idea why, but my kill switch is frozen..... I'm digging into it tomorrow and hoping that's it

[RUNMEDOWN]

So I was riding it without electric start or even a battery, and it did the same thing where the light would dim when I revved it up. I was bored at work the other day so I read the trouble shooting section in the manual (found a copy here online) and it actually had 3 possible causes of " electric starter cranks but bike won't fire". One possible cause was a bad kill switch. No idea why, but my kill switch is frozen..... I'm digging into it tomorrow and hoping that's it

It would seem to me (Read as uneducated guess) that what the manual is suggesting is that if the kill switch is bad, it is grounding the kill thus not letting the engine spark so that is what is stopping the electric starter from starting the trike. If that is the case; the trike would not start with the kick either. It would be the same as leaving the run switch in the off position

[ps2fixer]

It would seem to me (Read as uneducated guess) that what the manual is suggesting is that if the kill switch is bad, it is grounding the kill thus not letting the engine spark so that is what is stopping the electric starter from starting the trike. If that is the case; the trike would not start with the kick either. It would be the same as leaving the run switch in the off position

That would be correct. Another way to test that theory is to disconnect the kill switch wire (black with white stripe from memory), but it might be in a multi pin connector.

[honda4h]

i never found the issue with my bike. i sold it years ago.

[Chopsaw]

My 85 red is in the same spot , no e start kicks right over . At first it would crank , but no start until I released the button . Now it cranks over , no start . Fires up on first kick . I'm gonna look at it , jump it first , then maybe change out the starter .

[Hair Bear Bunch]

I had a similar issue with a Kawasaki quad. Kick it over with the plug out = good spark, estart = no spark at all.
The loom had been hacked about quite badly and without a manual it was pure trial and error but I found a wire that had 12v on it and when touched to earth there was a tiny spark - not a short circuit crack - and with that wire earthed I had a spark with the estart. Put the plug back in and it started first time.
Not suggesting your loom has been cut about, but worth double checking connectors and earth pionts.