Did about 50 miles on the Bonneville on Tuesday with no problems. Went to start the bike yesterday evening and - nothing. Front and rear light on, idiot lights on but pressed the strater button and nothing - no click no whirring just nothing. Checked battery terminals for tightness, checked charge , charged it for 2 mins and it was 100%. Checked side stand switch, engine kill switch and fuses. Nothing. Took starter switch apart and checked contacts, spring tension and all connections. Checked connections in the headlamp - all OK still nothing. Getting that "oh bugger" feeling as I run out of ideas and so was about to try shorting it across the solenoid to see if it would go and then noticed that one of the two spade connectors which sit behind the main bolted terminals of the solenoid had come off (how I don't know). Fitted it back on and the old bugger fired up first time. Worth a check if this were to happen to anybody else.
They're a real pain in the bum half ton - only other problem I've had with the Bonnie is the rear light not working, but headlamp, indicators and brake light did. Turned out to be one of the 5 amp fuses even though it hadn't actually blown. Just pulled it out and put it back in and it worked. Fuse box now cleaned up and fuses replaced with new ones!
That's spooky, mine did this today ! Where are the spade connectors you found loose ? not sure where you mean...
Its under the LH side cover on mine. The solenoid has two bolted contacts and two spade contacts behind - well the carb version does EFI may be different mate
Not the best picture, but it might help. The one that came off mine is the left hand flat spade connector at the back with the single black wire running to it.
Thanks Steve, checked mine, and one was very slightly loose, nipped it back up, and all has been ok since. Thanks for the pic mate.
