SF1 starter relay

S

smlav

Full member
Location
Shropshire UK
I’m away from home and my starter relay is playing up. It’s the original relay. Yesterday, on two occasions there was just a click when I pressed the button, it started okay the other 12-20 times. The battery is good, and the bike usually fires up instantly. Today, it’s misbehaving a bit more, maybe 30% of button pushes giving just a click. I’m guessing it’s the relay contacts. I’m in northern for the next week.

So my question is, would spraying contact cleaner into the relay help?

Should I open the relay up and clean the contacts?

Should I go seek an auto electrician and see if they have a new relay/solenoid. If so, current rating?

I’ve searched through the forum but found nothing definitive.

Thanks
 
Yes an easy thing to do first is to clean/check all the connections from the battery to the relay and from the relay to the starter,costs nothing and may reveal a loose or corroded connection.
 
The original starter relay on my SF3 was faulty and came on while I was riding a few years ago and destroyed the starter motor. I fitted a Bosch starter relay for a BMW R100. That was about nine years ago and no problems.
 
Is this on a triple ?........I only have experience of opening up and cleaning the contact faces on the original triple relays which you can do but others may say just replace it. I have restored a couple of old ones and they work fine. I would say that if it's clicking its energising/operating then the fault "may" lie with the starter motor?.......if no clicking at all it could be start button,ignition switch or wiring related somehow.

I wouldn't think contact cleaner would help much.

Just seen the title again SF1!! :)
 
Double check the battery and connections.
Clean earths.
As a last resort, pick up a second hand starter relay from a breakers or ebay.
Paul
 
Thanks people. It was an easy one, and I should have known better which checks to make. It was the high current cable from relay to battery positive, loose at battery. My battery has two places to connect at the positive terminal, the one on top does all the low current stuff, and at the side is the fat one for supply to starter relay. It was loose.

I was not looking forward to either pushing off the ferry ir bump starting a cold bike on ferry deck.!

And so, the SF1 is running very well and we are all set for tomorrow’s 160 mile loop.
Sean
 
smlav said:
Thanks people. It was an easy one, and I should have known better which checks to make. It was the high current cable from relay to battery positive, loose at battery. My battery has two places to connect at the positive terminal, the one on top does all the low current stuff, and at the side is the fat one for supply to starter relay. It was loose.

I was not looking forward to either pushing off the ferry ir bump starting a cold bike on ferry deck.!

And so, the SF1 is running very well and we are all set for tomorrow’s 160 mile loop.
Sean
Click to expand...
A classic problem.
I use Nyloc nuts on the battery terminals.
Paul
 
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