Ninja 500 won't start - clicking noise only

[frekeyguy]

if its clicking, why not put a battery charger on it, before taking stuff apart?

sometimes, its that simple.

[mozonian]

Originally Posted by racinfast002

you put a screw driver across the solenoid, it will do it every time. Trust me, I drove around with a screwdriver under the seat for a while just for starting my bike

I disagree. i am having this problem with my '91 ex500 and when i put a screwdriver across the posts of the relay all i get is a nice big spark when the screwdriver touches both posts....not from my plugs, from the screwdriver...any help on that issue? bad starter motor?

[jtcNinja]

normally if it isn't even clicking you can jump the starter and see if it starts. If it doesn't then it sounds like the starter is dead.

[jtcNinja]

also check that your ground is making good contact.. you said it was sitting for a year it might be a bit dirty and not making good contact.

[mozonian]

my bike clicks when i push the start button, just doesnt turn over...it also clicks and sparks when i touch the screwdriver to the solinoid but again, doesnt try to turn over...i will be trying to jump my starter tonight...long with trying to jump my solinoid too...with car bat so wish me luck...

[jtcNinja]

good luck, my battery was dyin from working on my bike and only letting it idle...(was adjusting my carb) so I grabbed some jumpers and strapped them to a car battery.. worked fine. But yeah try firing it up at the solenoid and let us know how it goes.

[mozonian]

ok, so now i have tried to jump it at the solinoid and also at the actual starter.....nothing...bad starter? or????

[StarGate]

Probably a bad starter if you're sure you had a strong +12 and ground but are you sure the engine isn't locked up?

[MFolks]

A inexpensive replacement for the starter solenoid can be found at the riding mower repair shops. Most bike shops want $100 for the solenoid while at the mower shops it's about $15.

Remove your old one and visit the repair shop and match up with what they have. Maybe a little wiring mod is needed but look at the money not spent!

[Ericthejet]

You have pulled out the battery? Checked it for fluid? Levels good and no crap on the + and - terminals?
Sounds like a battery issue to me.

[mozonian]

ok..pulled the plugs out tried starting it and nothing. I tried to jump the bike straight to the starter with the plugs out and still nothing...i also tried to put the bike in 2nd gear on the center stand and manually spin the back tire and i can't turn it. I also tried to jump the bike with a car bat since my bat is about dead now and i dont seem to be getting spark to the plugs either.....??????? what next?

i have previously taken the bat down to my local bike shop and they charged it up...i have tried however to jump from the bat out of my altima and still nothing....

[mozonian]

Originally Posted by StarGate

Probably a bad starter if you're sure you had a strong +12 and ground but are you sure the engine isn't locked up?

no...i am not sure the engine isnt locked up...im hoping it isnt...what to do if so??? the bike was running fine but after about 15 miles into riding it would feel like it was running out of gas even though there was gas. I traced it to a pinched tube... it was the tube that goes inbetween some piping inbetween the carbs...when i blow on it i hear bubbling in the carbs...seems to be an air inlet into there. but im not sure that was the problem because while i was checking all of this i left the petcock on over night....it flooded but i didnt realize until i tried to start it and heard a pop...that has happened in the past but i just take the plugs out start it..it blows the gas out of the cylinder, i put the plugs back in and im good...not this time...

[Ericthejet]

How in the hell could the bike flood? Your carbs work like a toilet tank and as the fuel fills the bowls a "seat" seals off the flow of gas from the tank. If your floats have failed you and gas managed to flow past them into the engine and flood one of the cyclinders and then you tried to start it? That could be a problem.

Look, my advice and please PM me with the results. Remove your left side lower cover to expose the crank end nut. With the plugs removed and the trans. in "N" place a socket and a long bar on there and try to turn it counter clockwise. Let me/us know. If you can not turn it you may have some bigger issues to deal with.

[Ericthejet]

Originally Posted by davidparks21

Hi all,
I've been through some helpful threads on this forum, but have not found a resolution to this problem just yet.

I have a 1999 Ninja 500 EX that won't start. When I try I just get a click from the starter relay (fuse box).

I should note that the bike was fully tuned up 1 year ago and has sat idle ever since. When I tried to start it it attempted to turn over and after 2 sad attempts gave way to no more than this clicking from the starter relay.

Common problems:

1) The battery is dead - So I removed the bikes battery and connected both terminals to my car battery (vehicle not running of course). All lights come on and the same problem exists.

2) The starter relay is dead (that's the fuse box). So I swapped that out for one in my friends Ninja 500. No change in behavior.


That's as far as I've gotten. I'm no expert at mechanics, but I can manage as far as I described.

Are there any further troubleshooting steps that a typical (non mechanic) can attempt? Or should I just give in and push the darn thing to the mechanic?

Thanks!!
Dave

Hey again Dave,

You mention it sat for a year prior to you starting it? It was drained of gas?
Your fuel tap, does it have an "off" setting?

[mozonian]

Originally Posted by Ericthejet

Hey again Dave,

You mention it sat for a year prior to you starting it? It was drained of gas?
Your fuel tap, does it have an "off" setting?

different guy...I have a big mouth and can't wait my turn....i jumped in in the middle of the convo.

[mozonian]

Originally Posted by Ericthejet

How in the hell could the bike flood? Your carbs work like a toilet tank and as the fuel fills the bowls a "seat" seals off the flow of gas from the tank. If your floats have failed you and gas managed to flow past them into the engine and flood one of the cyclinders and then you tried to start it? That could be a problem.

Look, my advice and please PM me with the results. Remove your left side lower cover to expose the crank end nut. With the plugs removed and the trans. in "N" place a socket and a long bar on there and try to turn it counter clockwise. Let me/us know. If you can not turn it you may have some bigger issues to deal with.

can you send a pic of what to look? or to do?

[StarGate]

Originally Posted by mozonian

different guy...I have a big mouth and can't wait my turn....i jumped in in the middle of the convo.

The thread has been dormant for a year, it's not like you interrupted anything.