Tempermental Starter

[Akathepriest]

I have a 96 katana and it was recently put back together. I didn't have it running before.

The starter will sometimes work and sometimes will not.

Things that seem to help are turning off the ignition and turning back on.

Its in neutral, the kickstand is down and the clutch is pulled in with choke on.

Otherwise I have no idea.

[steves]

Get a new starter, or find a shop to rebuild the one you've got. 600 and 750 are different so make sure you get the right one.

[rexazz2]

spray the crap out of the starter button with WD40
my 04 would give me greif every once and awhile

[phantasm]

Starters are pretty simple to rebuild. Usually just carbon on the armature.

[Akathepriest]

Starters are pretty simple to rebuild. Usually just carbon on the armature.

Hmm, so pulling it apart and cleaning with brake cleaner?

I see there are rebuild kits out there... Damn, I was really hoping to ride this weekend.

[phantasm]

There's always push starting.

[Akathepriest]

Thats true, but kats are cold blooded beasts, you gotta get it the first try or you will be too tired to do again.

[KatanaGSX92]

You mentioned that turning the ignition on and off seems to help. Perhaps it's actually a bad or high resistance connection in the ignition switch itself rather than a problem with the starter?

[05RedKat600]

You mentioned that turning the ignition on and off seems to help. Perhaps it's actually a bad or high resistance connection in the ignition switch itself rather than a problem with the starter?

Or a faulty/sticky relay....

[scottynoface]

Or a faulty/sticky relay....

Kinda what I was thinking, had to replace my buddy's starter relay in his 08 1000RR last week, the symptoms were pretty similar.

[Akathepriest]

Well, I have gotten it started a few times.

The ignition could just be me overthinking it, but it will start sometimes and sometimes I press the button and nothing happens.

When the starter cranks, it cranks. No half heartedness, it seems like a switch issue. Where is the relay? btw, I took the handgrip off and sprayed it and it didn't seem to help.

[Akathepriest]

I found it!!! Yes!!! The clutch sensor (right on the clutch lever) took it off and there was a lot of grease and dust build up over the two contacts, cleaned it off with some wd-40 and it starts every single time I press that button. Thank you KR!

[05RedKat600]

I found it!!! Yes!!! The clutch sensor (right on the clutch lever) took it off and there was a lot of grease and dust build up over the two contacts, cleaned it off with some wd-40 and it starts every single time I press that button. Thank you KR!