Green starter wire question

[Bubba B]

Is the green wire that runs to the starter supposed to have a constant 8.88 volts going to it even when the ignition switch is off? If so would that drain my battery? I did a search but could not find a real yes or no.

 

[Moespeeds]

Shouldn't. How's your EHC? Also, if the solenoid is going bad it could backfeed maybe.

 

[Bubba B]

I didn’t think it should. Went to start my bike the other day and it would not turn over. Bike stays on a tender so I thought it may be the starter. Removed the starter and the shop said it was good to go. Also had the battery checked out and found it had a bad cell during the load test. Bought a new battery 310 cca and did a test ride and it ran like a champ. Came back home and tried to start the bike again after letting it sit for a few and got the dreaded click. Hooked it back up the tender after the green light came back on the bike fired right up. Turned the bike off again and checked the green wire while the bike was off and it showed 8.88 going to the starter while the switch was off. During the summer I could ride for a few hours and it would do the click sometimes when starting. I could let the bike sit awhile and it would start. I have had a bad felling that the EHC was going bad. I also checked my grounds and they looked good. I did find a grey wire that has two loops on my horn that had broken and replaced that but still have the 8.88 going to the starter when the bike is off.

 

[DRBarnhart]

... still have the 8.88 going to the starter when the bike is off.

This may address the question of voltage on the starter wire although I don't know his definition of "newer EHCs"...

Some have pm'd me asking about the 8-8.5v they see on the green solenoid wire when it is not connected to the starter. This is typical for the newer EHCs and is due to how the transistors are biased when there is no load on the solenoid wire. When connected this does not cause a problem or try to start the bike. The typical key off current draw we would see on a carb bike was about 1.28mA (0.00128amps) about 1mA of this was thru the charging system not the starter.

Dennis

 

[DRBarnhart]

Have you checked the charging system?

Dennis

 

[Bubba B]

Thanks for the info. My friend is bringing his volt meter over tomorrow and we are going to check the charging system.