No start, headlight works though

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by isuace70

After taking things apart I got to it and crossed the terminals and lo and behold, the bike started.

You may have done more testing than you indicated but I've gotta add a little caution here:

Jumping across the solenoid terminals will always make the starter turn. That alone does NOT indicate the solenoid is bad.

When one of the safety's fails, or the ignition switch, kill switch, starter switch or starter relay goes bad or a wire is broken somewhere........that is exactly what happens.....the solenoid does not operate. That's how it is supposed to work.

Jumping across the solenoid defeats ALL that other stuff too, not just the solenoid.

[oklahoma_mike]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

You may have done more testing than you indicated but I've gotta add a little caution here:

Jumping across the solenoid terminals will always make the starter turn. That alone does NOT indicate the solenoid is bad.

When one of the safety's fails, or the ignition switch, kill switch, starter switch or starter relay goes bad or a wire is broken somewhere........that is exactly what happens.....the solenoid does not operate. That's how it is supposed to work.

Jumping across the solenoid defeats ALL that other stuff too, not just the solenoid.

Yeap if it happens to be in gear you will be going for a short and dissapointing ride