Solenoid failure, beware!

jon_melson · Jan 10, 2010

In approx August last year my bike became 'lazy' when starting so I ordered a new bigger battery and the uprated starter solenoid/realy from Wemoto that everyone talks about....

..What a mistake!

The solenoid failed in a big way yesterday.

It stuck 'open' yesterday so the starter motor was permanently engaged.

Luckily I was in the garage so quickly whipped the seat and battery off but it could've been a disaster.

Has anyone else had experience of this? I'm gutted that this part has lasted only 6 months, especially as the bike is garaged and is barely used.

Rich · Jan 10, 2010

****, don't like the sound of that! Mine has the Wemoto fitted too

Garvey20031 · Jan 10, 2010

2months and counting. no signs if problems

mark99 · Jan 10, 2010

Arrrrr Thats bad - (would the kill switch not work btw?).

Rgds

Mark

Mini_Me · Jan 11, 2010

mark99 said:
Arrrrr Thats bad - (would the kill switch not work btw?).

Rgds

Mark

No, killswitch does not do anything if/when the starter relay is permanently engaged. Only thing you can do is disconnect the battery.

The killswitch shuts down the ignition but no the starter engine. So it will keep cranking but it can't fire up.

jon_melson · Jan 11, 2010

Indeed! It's a bit of a *******....

I'm not sure why it failed and I've never heard of it happening to anyone else on here.

I've refitted the orginal one and the bike is behaving itself, but trust me, when you take the key out of the bike and the starter motor is still churning away all you can think of is,

" ARGH!!!! Battery!!!! ARGH!!! Sprag clutch!!!"

Lucky I was just in the garage at home so the tool box was about 15 seconds away.

Badger · Jan 11, 2010

if you try to start and the battery is weak it can cause the solenoid to fuse the contacts, sounds to me like this is what happened, been there before, a bit of a bastid of a feeling when it happens eh:roll

jon_melson · Jan 11, 2010

That's interesting to know but probably not in my case.

The bike is kept garaged and I'd been working on it for a good hour before with the heaters on (fitted MPL clutch slave cylinder) so the battery was warm, and it's a 6 month old battery that lives on an Optimate.

I can only think it was bad luck then?

By the way, not really that impressed with the cylinder... are there any tricks I should know as it doesn't feel any different?

B o B · Jan 11, 2010

jon_melson said:
fitted MPL clutch slave cylinder

By the way, not really that impressed with the cylinder... are there any tricks I should know as it doesn't feel any different?

Seconded. I fitted one about a year ago - never noticed any difference in the feel. (Having said that, the Aprilia one never bothered me at all.) The only noticeable benefit was the fluid kept cleaner, longer. It started to leak after a few months which they happily changed but now the replacement is leaking. I've had it with 'em. I've refurbished the Aprilia slave cylinder and it goes back on when it gets above 5 degrees in the garage.

Foxb · Jan 11, 2010

Sounds like something that happened to me once. 200 miles from home and stopped at an open canal bridge, turned bike off and it was turning over like a ************ and NOTHING i did would stop it. Not kill switch or removing ignition key stopped it. So i just carried on for the next 300 miles and thought **** it, If im tearing down the road i cant hear it. Starter seems fine and turns over ok now.

FECK KNOWS!!!

Phill · Jan 11, 2010

jon_melson said:
That's interesting to know but probably not in my case.

The bike is kept garaged and I'd been working on it for a good hour before with the heaters on (fitted MPL clutch slave cylinder) so the battery was warm, and it's a 6 month old battery that lives on an Optimate.

I can only think it was bad luck then?

By the way, not really that impressed with the cylinder... are there any tricks I should know as it doesn't feel any different?

Have you seen the following thread re a redesigned slave piston.

http://www.rsvzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11372

I am testing one at the moment [well not quite at this moment!] It is perfect so far and easy to fit. The feel is the same as original which is no problem to me and if marketed will cost very little. Later in the year I shall be changing the 'O' ring seals for X ring seals to do a back to back comparison.

knightster · Jan 11, 2010

jon_melson said:
That's interesting to know but probably not in my case.

The bike is kept garaged and I'd been working on it for a good hour before with the heaters on (fitted MPL clutch slave cylinder) so the battery was warm, and it's a 6 month old battery that lives on an Optimate.

I can only think it was bad luck then?

By the way, not really that impressed with the cylinder... are there any tricks I should know as it doesn't feel any different?

mine feels loads different, can't really provide u with expert advice as i didn't fit it (cheers vinnie!) but i do know that they can be quite tricky to bleed. someone else with many more brain cells will assist i'm sure. mine feels a great deal lighter BTW. unless u have arms like Mr T back in the eighties, u may not notice:nana

jon_melson · Jan 11, 2010

Less Mr T, more Hannibal!

Well if anyone does have anytips I'd be glad of them. There are zero bubbles coming out at the moment, unless they're trapped somewhere else?

I thought if it had air in it though it'd be soft + squidgey?

Mine just feels like before, and maybe with more riding I WILL get forearms like Mr T!

knightster · Jan 11, 2010

when mine was first fitted it felt a bit lighter but really noticed the difference when on the move changing up and down etc.... hope u sort it out matey

Solenoid failure, beware!

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