Starting Problems on my Big Red

[hublake]

I have recently put my 85 Big Red back together after restoration. Now I can't get the starter to kick in and turn the engine over. It did the first couple of times I started it a couple of weeks ago. I can get it to start by kick starting. I have a good battery in it, the headlights and tail lights work when I turn them on. I have checked the main fuse by the battery and it is ok and I have changed the starter solenoid. I have checked all connections and made sure they were tight. I started good before I stripped it down. When I put in the new battery the neutral light came on ,when I hit the start button the light went off and nothing.
Any electrical whizs out there?

[Tantrix]

Try shorting the solenoid with a screwdriver or jumping the starter directly with jumper cables and see if it cranks. It should crank that way, which means there may be either a grounding issue or a problem with your ignition switch.

[grafitti911]

check the positive wire going to the batt mine was loose n i tightend it down n checked the 2 wires going to the solinoid n the wire going to the main feuse

[hublake]

Try shorting the solenoid with a screwdriver or jumping the starter directly with jumper cables and see if it cranks. It should crank that way, which means there may be either a grounding issue or a problem with your ignition switch.

Thanks for the info. I shorted the solenoid this morning and it cranked. I will check the ignition switch later today. We have to go to the doc this morning. I think the ground is ok because it did start a couple of times after I put it back together.

[grafitti911]

hublake where in mich u from ?

[hublake]

hublake where in mich u from ?

I am from Hubbard Lake, which is south of Alpena. Northeast MI

[grafitti911]

im in da u.p. way n nw abought 3 hours from wisc boarder houghton co

[grafitti911]

did you get yours running? mine is a sitting duck it runs but needs the secondary clutch n the headpipe took me all winter to get it back to running cond got it started w/o head pipe i know your not supposto do that but i was anxious damn its loud put it in gear n nothin took it appart today n i noticed that the clutch basket was cracked kinda like a spider crack n the bolts bent all up the guy who fixed it diddnt do a good job at first when i tryed to start it the valve bent ((diddnt have it timed)) then the primary clutch diddnt fit or wasnt tight enough that came loose now im sitting here w a torch n gas ready to burn it

[hublake]

did you get yours running? mine is a sitting duck it runs but needs the secondary clutch n the headpipe took me all winter to get it back to running cond got it started w/o head pipe i know your not supposto do that but i was anxious damn its loud put it in gear n nothin took it appart today n i noticed that the clutch basket was cracked kinda like a spider crack n the bolts bent all up the guy who fixed it diddnt do a good job at first when i tryed to start it the valve bent ((diddnt have it timed)) then the primary clutch diddnt fit or wasnt tight enough that came loose now im sitting here w a torch n gas ready to burn it

I just got the ignition switch out. Have to find out if there is a way to check it. I don't have another one to replace it with. Don't want to buy a new one if this is ok. Hubbard Lake is about 1 1/2 hrs. south of the bridge.

[hublake]

Figured out the problem. The neutral switch wire was loose. Fixed that and it started right up. Thanks all the suggestions.