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How is your battery? Have you monitored the battery voltage at the terminals when you hit the starter button? If the voltage drops dramatically, then the battery is the problem. If the voltage stays at nominal, say 12.5v or so, then it's something else.
That something could be the starter relay under the tank. The relay can develop corrosion on the terminals. Locate the relay, and unplug/replug a few times...that might help. The relay is a black plastic cube about 1" square on the left side of the frame backbone.
The PO chopped most of the wires and I'm reassembling. The battery is new and the starter relay is new. I need to know how do you know if the switch make some kind of "click" when you push it.
No click or other tactile feedback, just the push and hold, then release.
Hi
I have a 73 lwb. Starter button will not make contact most times when I try to start bike. BTW no click or noticeable contact on button. I push button and nothing happens most or at least half the time. What I do is push button hard and hold it with one hand and slowly rotate it with my other hand and Bike ROARS to life haha. So give that a try. Push hard and grind/wiggle the switch. Good thing about old technology is bike has a kick start and I have a hill close by, although I haven't had to use them yet. I did order a new switch a few years ago, Its on my bench waiting to be installed. The experts could tell me how and why the switch is broken but I'm just going to replace it. I have heard stories of owners trying to repair the switch with poor results. I figure after 50 years its time to replace it. Good luck, I hope this helps, and keep us posted.
Brian
The PO chopped most of the wires and I'm reassembling. The battery is new and the starter relay is new. I need to know how do you know if the switch make some kind of "click" when you push it.
My first Airhead is a 1971 R/75. When I press the starter button I get no movement in the switch. Should there be some discernable "click"? Should there be some movement
I have cleaned the unit with electronic cleaner and it didn't do anything.
The switch should push in a little when pressed with no sound. I had a similar problem and disassembled the switch. There are a half dozen or so wires soldered to the contacts and they were all corroded and cruddy almost to the point of not being connected. I cleaned the contacts and resoldered the wires; it's a fussy job but not too tough. That solved the problem and after 50 years of use its wasn't really a big deal. One caution, when you disassemble the switch there is a little e-clip holding the button in place and when you remove it there is a small, stiff coil spring which flies off the switch shaft like a rocket if you don't keep your finger on it. I spent 2 hours on my hands and knees with a flashlight looking for it and found it on the floor under and behind a work bench 20 feet away. The air was blue for a good 1/2 hour.
The switch should push in a little when pressed with no sound. I had a similar problem and disassembled the switch. There are a half dozen or so wires soldered to the contacts and they were all corroded and cruddy almost to the point of not being connected. I cleaned the contacts and resoldered the wires; it's a fussy job but not too tough. That solved the problem and after 50 years of use its wasn't really a big deal. One caution, when you disassemble the switch there is a little e-clip holding the button in place and when you remove it there is a small, stiff coil spring which flies off the switch shaft like a rocket if you don't keep your finger on it. I spent 2 hours on my hands and knees with a flashlight looking for it and found it on the floor under and behind a work bench 20 feet away. The air was blue for a good 1/2 hour.
Don't have that switch in front of me but I THINK that side has an internal tab that goes to ground? The little top screw makes contact when screwed in so when you push the button, it completes the circuit.
Try taking the top and bottom screws out and pushing the harness into the switch holder and forcing the button out a little. Then you can see the wire connections and the little brass tab on top...clean all and reinstall.
Sorry if I'm remembering the wrong switch.