Troubleshooting help: 1985 250ES Big Red starter and reverse light *Update*

[Tantrix]

I just got an '85 250ES Big Red and the electric start won't work. It has a new battery, and when I hit the start button it doesn't do a thing...no noise, nothing. The guy that owned it before me said the starter quit working, he had it "worked on" and then it quit on him again about 3 weeks later. I am not sure if the starter quit or when I hit the button it just isn't getting the signal to the starter for it to turn over. Where would be the best place to start to see if this is a starter problem or possibly an electrical problem?

(I am aware I can jump the starter directly with some jumper cables and a battery, does it have to be the ATV battery or can I use a car battery?)


Also, my reverse light doesn't work (neutral does) and I have no idea if it's the bulb in the light itself or a wiring issue. Any tips on how to trace the problem?

[bigreddaddy]

Check the starter solenoid. It is on the left side and is wired between the battery and starter. Check/clean the connections, on the battery too.
You can jump your battery or starter directly using any 12v battery,
My reverse light doesn't work either, it doesn't bother me and doing all the electrical troubleshooting just isn't worth it to me.

[bigreddaddy]

You can also give that solenoid a little tap with a wrench or something and it might wake it up. Thats what I did to mine a few times to get to work.
By the way, where abouts in LA are you?

[Dimbag_Gyllez]

wouldint be a loose wire? or a missing one

[Tri-ZNate]

For the reverse light just pull the pigtail out of the dash and see if its blown.

Do you have any power? In other words when your in neutral and its off does neutral light up? if not check the fuse behind the battery. only one back there

[Tantrix]

You can also give that solenoid a little tap with a wrench or something and it might wake it up. Thats what I did to mine a few times to get to work.
By the way, where abouts in LA are you?

Yeah I am also suspecting the solenoid, hopefully today I'll know what it is if it doesn't pour rain. I'm in Montgomery, LA.

For the reverse light just pull the pigtail out of the dash and see if its blown.

Do you have any power? In other words when your in neutral and its off does neutral light up? if not check the fuse behind the battery. only one back there

Yes, my neutral light always comes on when I am in neutral even when the engine is off. I'm going to check under the ignition cover like you mentioned and see if I notice anything unusual.


Thanks for the tips guys, if you think of more keep them coming.

[Tantrix]

Well...today I jumped the starter directly, and it did indeed turn over but very slow (not enough to crank the engine). My switch still didn't work so I took it apart and somebody had put the button/spring in there wrong and it wasn't making contact when you pushed the button. After I got that fixed I could push my button and the starter would turn over on it's own....but still very slowly. I pulled the starter and took it apart. It was nasty inside, lots of black crud everywhere which I cleaned up with a wire brush. After I got it all clean, I inspected the brushes and out of the 4 inside 1 was broken completely in half and loose inside the starter. I cleaned the 2 pieces of the broken brush out and twisted the wire the brush was connected to and tucked it away.

I put the starter back together figuring it probably wouldn't work and mounted it back on the engine. After hooking up my negative battery cable again, I turned the ignition switch on and hoped for the best. I hit the starter button and she fired right up. I killed the bike and started it by the push button 5 more times, and every time the starter worked like it should. I only have 3 brushes left in my starter but apparently that's more than enough for these 'ol faithfuls to operate on. Who knows, the starter might self-destruct on it's own 2 days from now but at least I'm getting some use out of it now.

I traced some on the reverse light, but didn't find anything out of the ordinary in the wiring. I didn't get a chance to pop the cover off between the handlebars yet though. It might just be the bulb, not sure yet.

[bigreddaddy]

There is a fuse on the left side of the machine just behind the air box, mounted to the frame.
The solenoid won't work if fuse is blown. We pulled the air box off to assess it better. Kinda a goofy looking flat metal strip. The rubber covering slides back exposing the fuse block and on the inside of the little black lid there might still be a spare fuse in the cap.

john

Glad you mentioned this as I had forgot. Mine was very corroded and not making contact. So I just rigged it to work. Then I had the solenoid problem but all is well now.

These 'ol Big Reds are unstoppable with a little sweat and busted knuckles.

[1985bigred]

the reverse light has a bulb right below the red cover no need to remove any thing jest pull the rubber seal/bulb on underneith and theres bulb same for nutral light.
tiny bulb but an auto parts should hav it.
hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

keep trike alive and i will mine

[1985bigred]

kepp your trike alive and i will mine

[greythorn3]

kepp your trike alive and i will mine

Anyone have a bulb number as both my bulbs are missing

[Flyingw]

Honda part number

BULB (12V 3W)
34908-MB0-003

[greythorn3]

is there a cross reference for it incase of going to automotive store?