I'm Just Feeding Solenoids to my Valkyrie At This Point

[Lucien Harpress]

1997 Valkyrie. So, this is the second starter solenoid this bike has fried in less than five years. Same thing each time- main fuse melts, without blowing. The first solenoid I fried was, I'd assume, a stock part. My replacement WAS one of the cheaper Amazon parts, which might be part of it, but just to be safe my newest solenoid I ordered is a genuine (used) Honda part. And the plug on the wiring harness is brand new, because I had to replace it the FIRST time this fuse melted.

Is there something I need to look for to stop this from happening? Dielectric grease on the fuse terminals? Other connections to check and clean? I don't really have any additional electrical loads installed (running lights, accessories, etc.), so it can't be that. I'm just tired of feeding my bike starter solenoids!

[robin1731]

Do you have to crank it over for an extended time to get it to start? Battery at good full voltage? All cables, especially ground, clean and tight? Starter in good shape?

[Lucien Harpress]

Never had to crank the bike much at all. The (first) battery came with bike, and was what I was using when it melted the first time, a couple years ago. Just recently I had everything electrical die at a gas station- I was able to run the bike with a jump, but the second I shut it off everything died again.

I replaced the battery a week ago with a new one, and rode on that one nearly every day afterwards, until the fuse melted again.

Once I track down where the ground is bolted to I'll clean that up, but apart from the battery everything seems normal.

[robin1731]

Jumped with what? Jump pack? Car? If car I hope it wasn't running. It's been said that it is best to jump just off the battery with a car.

Charging system working ok?

[pidjones]

Motorcycle solenoids are typically mounted with the terminals up. This permits water to easily drain down into the innards. If possible, you might consider mounting yours with the can on top (contacts down). I have no proof on this, but was able to resurrect an original solenoid and continue using it after inverting it.

[Lucien Harpress]

Jumped with what? Jump pack? Car? If car I hope it wasn't running. It's been said that it is best to jump just off the battery with a car.

Charging system working ok?

It was a car, but I genuinely don't remember if it was running or not. All I know is that it started real easy once the other battery was connected, it ran fine all the way home, and as soon as I shut the engine off I I lost all electrical as well. Since I was home I also tried jumping it off my other bike batteries, and that got me electrical back, so the original battery was toast. That said, when I was still stuck at the gas station I pulled the solenoid connector and fuse, and both looked fine.

Unless that short ride home goobered up that fuse connecting just enough to start some melting/corrosion, and the week of riding it afterwards on a new battery finished the job.

I'd thought my charging system was fine, but I'll double check it once I get my replacement solenoid in.