98 Magna wont start. replaced stator and battery. where is starter located?

[ed5757]

Hello.
I recently bought this bike from my brother, which has run fine since he bought it new. he had a problem with it not wanting to start. I replaced the stator and the battery. seemed fine for about a month, then it would not want to start at times where other instances it would. it came to a point where it would start less and less. therefore I would have to push start the bike. it has come down to where I was getting a clicking sound but not turning over. now it isnt even clicking anymore at all. the lights are bright so I am ruling out the battery. can it be the starter or relay? and does anyone know where the starter and relay is on the 98 Magna? any help would be SO appreciated. I am missing not being able to ride.the weather here in Fl. is getting nice.  Thanks.   Eddie

[Charles S Otwell]

Have you tried cleaning the starter switch? I think the switch has created problems along those lines.

[TLRam1]

and clean your battery post, check for loose battery connections (happened more than once to me), check your kill switch. check the voltage on the battery anyway and what happens to the voltage when you hit the starter button.

If your voltage is in the mid 12's and you hit the starter button with little voltage drop, likely a faulty connection. If your voltage drops in the 10's could than be your starter binding (drawing current but not spinning). Think along these lines to help with your problem solving. If your battery tanks in voltage, likely has lost the amperage to turn over the starter.

Rarely hear of these types of issues being something difficult. There are other ideas if these don't work.

BTW, the starter is located at the front of the motor.

[TLRam1]

Oh yeah, welcome to MOOT!!!!!!

Where do you live?

[Magnum Magna]

Just following up on the battery line how old and if it sat up for a while how long?

Yes Welcome to the Moot

[hootmon]

I agree, most likely the switch, When it won't start, try moving the switch around or letting it out, just a little. I have had to replace the switch on my '94 and my wifes '03 Sabre with the symptoms you discribe. I purchased used switches thru junk yards. They send you the whole unit, just take the guts out, that way you don't have to mess with the throttle cables.
I also had a broken positive cable right at the lug for the battery.
Yes, welcome to Moot..

[roboto65]

I might have missed something has anyone mentioned the Regulator the stator was replaced but not the regulator HMMMMM Oh and welcome to the Club we WILL get ya going!!!

[hootmon]

Since he push starts the bike and it runs and the battery neither dies or boils dry, I bypassed the regulator as the issue.
(BTW '94 - '99 Magna's are know for having regulator failures by our unscientific experience which is why it is being brought up.)

[ed5757]

Thanks, everyone , for the warm welcome, as well as the quick responses.
  Can't wait to get this fixed. this bike has never sat. my brother rode it often. it has about 40,000 miles on it. replaced with a new new stator and a new battery. as far as the starter switch issue, We had already experienced this.  yes , cleaning it can help. however, that always seemed to be an issue with it the switch being "sticky". I don't think this is the current problem as, like I mentioned, whenever I pressed the starter switch I would get a clicking sound. so the switch is working. now when I press it, I get nothing. the headlight is fairly bright but goes dark when I press the switch. I recognize the thought process you guys are using. always try the simplest (cheapest!) solutions first. smart thinking. but after I rule out these solutions, would the next step down the line be the relay and the starter? and does anyone know if its a P.I.T.A. to replace the starter yourself? recent local shop estimate to replace starter: 300 big ones.
     Someone here asked me where I'm from. I reside in Deltona, Fl. about half an hour from Daytona Beach.
Can't wait to get this baby going again. I'm currently working on a Mod (more aesthetic than performance) that I bet you guys havent ever seen that I would like to share with you. Thanks .   Eddie

[hootmon]

IF you determine that you think it is the starter, there are two things you can do, other than spend $300.00
1) take the starter apart (it comes off easily) and clean the commutator (the brass/copper looking part that all the wires go through on the spindle part) It sometimes builds up a lot of carbon and can reduce the surface area for the brushes to contact. I used a black compound bar that is used with a buffing wheel.
2) on E-Bay you can buy a rebuild kit. It comes with new brushes and bearings, etc.. and is about $40.

The hardest part of these two items is getting the starter back together.. It's not that hard, I'd just sort of holding everything together in the right place, while shoving it back together..
I rebuilt mine, but didn't need to (I have 50+K on my '94). I have a Starter clutch issue that I mis-troubleshot. (gears not engaging while the starter spins causing a grinding/chattering sound)
I am in Safety Harbor (near Tampa) and TP is in Spring Hill just north of me...
Sometime maybe we can get together during BikeWeek or something..

[lragan]

I would not spend time, money, or effort on the starter until I determined:

1) The battery is charging fully.
2) All the battery connections are sparkling clean.
3) The battery passes a starting current test (you can get this done at Wal-Mart, among other places.)

The fact that the light is bright does not mean the battery is OK for starting.  The light draws 5-6 amps, while the starter will draw 75-100 amps.  Connections inside and outside the battery can fail at the higher current and work just fine for the lower ones.

When you walk up to the bike, take off the seat and measure the battery voltage, what do you read?

When you start up the bike, and run it at 3000 rpm, what battery voltage do you read?

I had a battery for months that would not drive the starter for a cold start but would do everything else.  I usually started the bike by riding down the hill and popping the clutch, so this was not apparent, until one day...    A new battery fixed the problem.

There is, IMHO, a clear design flaw in the early 3rd gen regulators as originally mounted on the bike.  All of us on the forum know this, which is why we are so suspicious of the battery condition.

Hope this helps.

[Fitzgerald]

I'm no mechanic but the light going out when you press the starter button sounds a little suspicious and electrical.

[hootmon]

The light is supposed to go out when you hit the starter button.. It cuts the voltage draw so you have more voltage for the starter.. It's built into the starter button.

[ed5757]

Hey guys. hope everyones looking forward to the fall riding weather. I have been out of town so havent had time to look at the bike.
I still am not able to locate the starter, picking up a voltmeter tomorrow and will test the battery. already checked as much wiring and connections as possible. anyone know where exactly the starter is on the 98 Magna? TLRam1, I know you said the front. I pulled off the tank and looked and checked around the carbs. I am pretty sure its a small cylinder object, and I feel like a damn fool for not being able to locate it, but..............?????

[hootmon]

Here is a pictures of the starter
(Click on Picture for larger view)

 

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