Help with electric start on a 1988 Moto 4 225cc

[bija]

Hi, I picked up a 1988 Moto 4 as a project, it needs some work. If I use some starting fluid and the emergency pulley with a pull rope it will run off the starting fluid and the dash lights come on showing that it is in neutral, it seems to run OK, but the electric start does not work. It does not have a battery installed so I jump it off of a different battery that I know is good from my Lawn Tractor. When I jump it and turn the key on it does nothing, no lights I would think the headlights and dash lights would come on, if I hit the starter switch, nothing happens. If I jump it to the exit side of the starter solenoid it will turn over the motor. I have checked for 12V at the 2 wire connector of the solenoid when trying to start and there is no voltage. I did a continuity check of the starter switch on the handlebar, checked out OK. I know there could be alot of things that could cause this, any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[az426]

man,without a schematic your probably on your own.start looking for power with the key on and see wher you lose it.i fixed a friends poolaris and it wouldnt start with the key either,it was a burnt wire in the middle of the harness near the cyl head.good luck.

 

[bija]

I suspect that it is going to be something like that, my next step was to start checking wires for continuity. Thanks for the input

 

[MrSled]

Check the fuses near the battery and if you add another battery or jump the machine, the lights and everything should work.

 

[maim]

check the solenoid under the fender on the left rear. if you can jump both large terminals and it turns over odds are that solenoid is burnt. after that its all continuity checks to find what the bugger is doing.