issue with starting

[3blindmice]

I have a 2006 GL1800 with a California Sidecar trike conversion. I have 47000 miles, bought used in May this year.
The bike starts in my garage, I drive for a whhile, turn it off for a short time 1-2 hours, then when I try to start, it acts like the kill switch is on, no sounds at all. I have tryed holding the start switch and turning the kill switch back and forth with no result. If wait a few minutes, it will start. Any ideas?

[Big Blue UK]

It could sound like starter contacts when motor is hot/warm, I would get a meter on the start/kill circuit first.

Easiest way to diagnose the starter or switch is to pop a test meter probe on the red/yellow wire at Starter Relay A connector when the starter is not working and press the starter (diagram in link), if you do not get 12v you have 3 choices. If you get 12v, I would suspect the starter before starter relays.

I do not have that much faith in the starter, you can test the starter and kill circuit between the IGN relay and starter relay A with a meter easy enough when the starter is working. I had trouble in cold weather, my 1800 had covered less than 8,000 miles and not been used in the rain. I could not be bothered to take it apart, and there was no way I was going to be ripped off for a replacement switch that may have been no better. So I just installed a reliable secondary marine switch for a few quid, sorted.

How much do you use RVS, I try to avoid using RVS and manoeuvre so I can get off and push whenever possible if I need to, especially a trike.


viewtopic.php?f=15&t=33391

[3blindmice]

Thank you for the advise. I did spray the starter switch with a good electrical cleaner and so far so good.

[dartsuperman1965]

Had same issue with my 2006, was loose connection on starter relay, I would check connections on both, the starter relay and the reverse relay. Relay "A" and relay "B" haven't had a problem since.