Need help with my track bike

[Degener8]

Can anyone help..

Ive looked as best I can round old threads on so many forums and I cant find anything similar, any help will be greatly appreciated!

this has me totally stumped. My ZXR400 will not turn over.

Its a ZXR 400 L4 Track bike, its keyless and runs total loss.

It has a Dynatech ignition advance unit with rev limit and ignition advance adjustments,
Electric loom has been stripped down so no key required but the starter motor is still present so no having to bump start.

Things ive done -

Fully charged battery ( used another brand new fully charged battery as well)
Replaced starter relay (solenoid)
Replaced Starter Motor
Completely cleaned all contacts.
Fuse all okay

When I turn on the power I get dash lights, I press the start and you hear the solenoid thud but nothing else, dash lights dim at the same time but thats it.

I havent checked the battery out put because I dont have the equipment. But I did boost it off of another 12v and it did the same thing..

Someone please help im new to this but I really want to crack this without shelling out for a mechanic.

Everything I replaced was installed exactly the same as it came out and as per the workshop manual pdf.

This bike runs total loss, so no alternator.

What are the odds that 2 starter motors are shagged?

I really hope its something small but something ive missed.

Cheers in advance.

[Mr Speirs]

Can you bump start it?

[Degener8]

Not that I managed last night.. Although ive got a feeling im doimg it wrong as never bumped a bike before, but the back wheel just locked up for a second.

[NTECUK]

The zx6r F 2 /3 have a wire that droops the voltage range to the ignition module.
Have you by passed this or damaged it.
No spark if it's not right

[Degener8]

I genuinely dont know, I bought it of a friend who basically said all it needed was a new starter motor. He doesn't know too much about the history if the modifications. I know this seems like it could be a black hole of problems, just really cant afford a mechanic right now. Im not completely novice at this stuff ive just never done bike electics before this is

what my friend said about it -

Hi mate. The bike was running fine. I crashed it and was sent to idp in Silverstone to be fixed. There was no running problem then. I was getting it ready to use again one day. Started it a couple of times. Then it stopped once and wouldn't start again. It had a clicking sound coming from it. My uncle and family friend both motorbikers said it was the starter motor.

So I just went from that really.

[NTECUK]

OK. The click can be the lift pump.
It's got a set of points.
On mine if you leave it for a fortnight it takes a age of it to prime.
So if you are getting petrol to the carb it's working.
So let's go for a step back and look at why you don't get it to crank.
One. You have a good battery.
Your need a volt meter.
Check out the volts across the battery when you crank it.
It going to drop form 12, 6 to maybe 10 normally

With the tester on the battery -ve check out the volts to the starter. If its getting 10 volts it should turn.
Check out the starter body too.
When you crank the meter readings should be below 0.5 volts. From battery -Ve to the body of the starter.
If its higher you have a bad earth

[Degener8]

Awesome thank you, il try as soon as im home

[Degener8]

Originally Posted by Degener8

Awesome thank you, il try as soon as im home

Originally Posted by NTECUK

OK. The click can be the lift pump.
It's got a set of points.
On mine if you leave it for a fortnight it takes a age of it to prime.
So if you are getting petrol to the carb it's working.
So let's go for a step back and look at why you don't get it to crank.
One. You have a good battery.
Your need a volt meter.
Check out the volts across the battery when you crank it.
It going to drop form 12, 6 to maybe 10 normally

With the tester on the battery -ve check out the volts to the starter. If its getting 10 volts it should turn.
Check out the starter body too.
When you crank the meter readings should be below 0.5 volts. From battery -Ve to the body of the starter.
If its higher you have a bad earth

Okay heres the test results..

Battery - 12v
Across the solenoid -12v
From solenoid to starter motor point 181 of a volt (.181v) cranked

-Ve to starter motor cranked 2.0v
-Ve to starter body 0.2v

+ve to starter 12v


Ive never known a motor work off of .181 of a volt.. Am I wrong? I think its the cable from solenoid to motor is dead? Any ideas?

[NTECUK]

From the battery to the solenoid 12V. Press the start button then (hopefully click 12 Volts on the other big terminal

[Degener8]

I think I found the culprit! I took the starter motor out of the bike and connected it back to the battery, put it on the bike frame for a sec, my mrs pressed the starter button.. And the motor turned! Which is awesome because the motor isnt fudged.. But what does that mean? Bad earth?

Originally Posted by NTECUK

From the battery to the solenoid 12V. Press the start button then (hopefully click 12 Volts on the other big terminal