250sx electric start problem

[Orvis]

1985 250sx

When I push the electric start button it just clicks back by the battery. I replaced the battery but did not solve the problem.

Any ideas? Is it the starter or something electrical?

Thanks!!!!

Jim
maya@weighttrainingworkouts.com

[ATCnut]

The click you hear back by the battery is the solenoid. So now the most likely problem is the starter itself, or the wire between the solenoid and the starter. It could also be the solenoid.

The solenoid is on the left side of the battery box. There are two big wires, one from the battery and one to the starter. With a test light verify that there is voltage at the end of the one from the battery. Then, while pushing the starter button, verify that voltage appears at the terminal for the wire to the battery. This verifies that the solenoid is good.

Another test is to short the two big terminals with a big screwdriver or something. Make sure the trike is in neutral before doing this. If the solenoid is bad, this will make the starter motor spin.

If that is good, then check that voltage appears at the big terminal on the starter while the button is pushed. If it does, then the starter is bad, if it does not, troubleshoot the wire.

Another test of the starter is to use jumper cables and a running car. Make sure the trike is in neutral before starting. Connect the cables to the cars battery. Connect the negative cable to the frame, and carefully touch the positive cable to the starter terminal. This should make the starter spin. Do not leave it on there for long, the higher voltage of the running car can burn out the starter, a few seconds is no problem.