[gavinbpugh]

I'm wiring up my CM400E, and I stumbled across a ground female connection (there are actually two female terminals inside) stemming immediately from the headlamp female plug, and I cannot seem to figure out where it connects to. Looking at the wiring diagram doesn't seem to reveal anything either. Any thoughts?

 

[gavinbpugh]

Good to know—thanks jt.

On another note, I'm still trying to determine why my starter isn't working. When I press the switch, all of the dash, turn signal, head lights dim, but the starter motor won't crank. I can only start the bike when I use jumper cables from the battery straight to the starter motor with the start switch pressed. Is this a solenoid issue?

Also, I think the PO tried to do some funky wiring in two places. In the headlight bucket, a few of the green ground wires, as well as some of the black wires (also ground???) were clamped together with what looked like small bits of brass wrapped in tape. Would this be the reason for some of my electrical issues?

I'm at work. I can post pictures when I get back to the bike this evening.

 

[gavinbpugh]

Here are the photos I promised. The solitary green ground is coming from the red plug, which comes from the right-hand controls, including the starter switch. Is this a proper wiring job as part of the original harness?

 

[gavinbpugh]

Okay, I've removed the starter switch and thoroughly cleaned both surfaces, as well as rinsed them with electrical cleaning fluid. I'm still not getting anything.

Are there any resistances I should check for?

 

[gavinbpugh]

Hey Jim, I bounce between 12-13V when testing the positive battery terminal to that green/red connector.

I followed this thread and found that everything read normal except with the starter switch. My starter switch reads about 1 million ohms in all positions: ignition switch on in run position, ignition switch on in off position, ignition switch of in any position.

If I'm getting these readings, and can start the bike using jumper cables, then does that mean something is going wrong with the starter switch or the solenoid?

 

[gavinbpugh]

Great. I'll give that a shot tomorrow.

 

[gavinbpugh]

Let me know if I did this right: I connected the jumper cable, both positive and negative leads, to the battery, and I grounded the other negative lead to the bike, and connected the other positive lead to the disconnected red and yellow wire at the solenoid. If I did this right, I got nothing, and the solenoid is toast. If I did this wrong, please let me know!

Also, based on my test for the start switch, mentioned above, the switch is bad, right? I should be reading 0 ohms when the switch is off or the ignition is off. I'm reading virtually infinite ohms in all positions (about 1 million-1.2 million).

Also, non-electrical related issue regarding leaks posted over here. Thanks for the help!

 

[gavinbpugh]

Okay, pardon my ignorance here:

The armature doesn't move at all (by that, I mean I don't hear anything click). In taking apart the solenoid, the hot wire coming from the positive battery terminal accidentally made contact with the opposite solenoid bolt and the motor started cranking, which is the first time that has happened without jumper cables connected straight to the starter motor. I assume this was me accidentally hot wiring the bike.

In disassembling the solenoid, I found that little copper rectangular plate, along with one of the copper bolt contacts, was covered in crud. I scrubbed them down well and rinsed them in electrical cleaning fluid. Reassembled and still no click from the armature and no cranking bike. I can't overemphasize how neglected this bike was, so it would not surprise me at all of the inner coil of the solenoid is completely corroded and full of crud. Considering a replacement solenoid is quite inexpensive, I think I've found my problem considering the symptoms of my non-cranking bike. Thoughts?

 

[gavinbpugh]

Suspicions were correct! $10 later and a brand new solenoid makes her fire right up! I've got a street ready bike, folks. Now I f I could just do something about those oil leaks...