Pointy won't turn off!

[Markylemin]

I've just had a rather scarey moment, luckily at work, where my K3 wouldn't turn off.
I took the key out but the starter was turning the engine over constantly.
The kill switch did nothing and I couldn't even stall her in gear.
While leaving her running I managed to get the seat off and pulled the green fuse out of the starter relay but it kept going.
I disconnected the battery and she died.
All I could find was a loose wire (fat) on the relay that goes to the starter. I can only assume that the screw holding it in place had vibrated loose and the wire had been touching the live battery wire.

Does anyone have any other ideas?
I have charged up the battery and tested the relay & all seems fine.

Thanks

[Markylemin]

A small update - today I rode to work and made 3 or 4 stops & starts no problem.
At home time i started her up but could hear a whirring over the normal engine noise. I had no choice but to ride 15 miles with the whirr going until I could investigate at home.
I had the same not turning off issue with the starter going constantly.
Start button not stuck in, kill switch and taking key out only cut the ignition but do not stop the starter motor.Even pulling off the small wiring plug had no effect.
As a last resort a tap with a screwdriver to the relay and it stopped.
I guess the relay contacts are sticking closed and not dropping out when start button released.
It checked out ok with a multimeter as per the Suzuki manual.
Any other opinions before I buy a new relay?
Thanks.

[TicklinJock]

Sounds like you need a new relay. It's what I'd try next.

[Markylemin]

TicklinJock, thanks for confirming what I thought.
Wemoto here I come!!!

[SV650rules]

Those relay contacts carry a lot of current and direct current is much worse than AC for arcing and pitting the contact material, and it's a vicious circle when contact starts to get damaged it heats up more and gets more damaged. Relay should really be on list of service items to be replaced at intervals.

[Fen Tiger]

Markylemin, just for interest, how many miles has your bike done before this failure?

[Markylemin]

Fen Tiger, she's just turned 24K miles.
I've no idea what the lifespan of the relay should be but mine has done 14 years.
I guess it depends how many times the bike is started as much as anything else.

[SV650rules]

Could be age and starts related, relay contacts will oxidize with age even when not used, the oxide increases the electrical resistance which causes heat, which oxidizes them even more.

[Markylemin]

Just to bring the thread to a close, a new starter relay & all is back to normal.
Thanks to those who confirmed what I suspected.