2013 Bonneville Starts When Clutch Pulled In

Only thing that’s rattling my memory banks is a similar thing happening to some BMWs about 25yrs ago and the culprit was low battery voltage.

 

I'd imagine there will be a multiway connector somewhere, maybe in the headlamp shell, to allow you to isolate the starter button. That might be a good start. Most likely a frayed or shorted cable you'd think. Have you actually ridden the bike since this problem occurred? If so does it behave normally once started?

 

It might be worth checking the starter relay?

 

There are a number of relays for different electrical items. They are plug in cubes and usually located under the seat but on my Speed Twin they are behind each side panel so your Bonneville is probably the same. You need to identify 2 relays that are the same and swap them to see if that makes a difference. You need a service manual to identify which is the starter relay, either Haynes or Triumph online subscription manual which costs £5.99 for a months subscription.

 

Hi Tony, unless your unaware of it the Bonneville from most years suffer with starting issues, see my thread dated 3rd June 25....https://www.thetriumphforum.com/threads/newchurch-with-the-dreaded-starting-problem.44130/ In my case I replaced the starter solenoid and relay both located under the left hand side panel the relay is the one on the right the left one being the flasher relay. Both relatively inexpensive, also the headlamp plays an important part of the starting sequence see my thread...
Good luck.........

 

OK, these pics are from my 2010 SE which l reckon is going to be near identical electrically. So...

If you remove the headlamp front you'll expose the connectors from various sub assemblies. Below is the RH switchgear connector. Press the black button and it will pull apart.

 

Looking end on at the six pins, l've circled the starter button pins. You should have no continuity unless you press the starter

 

And these are the relays. Only two and both different so no easy swap. I am pointing at the headlamp cutout relay which acts as the starter relay by the look of the wiring diagram.



FYI this is the relay type

 

Mighty Boosh is correct that is the starter relay the other being the flasher relay...

 

Are there not more relays anywhere else? My Speed Twin has 7 in total, 5 behind the RH side panel and 2 behind the LH side panel, although it is a new model and things have obviously changed. I also noticed that my relays are much smaller cubes in comparison.

 

Nothing shown or mentioned in the manual. That relay turns off the headlamp whilst cranking and diverts the voltage to the starter relay according to Haynes' description, which in actual fact is the starter solenoid.
BTW I found some equivalent relays on Amazon for 7.99 for two. A lot of Triumph dealers are showing no stock so I thought it might be prudent to get myself a spare or two....

 

If you know how to check for continuity, or know someone who does, you don't really need to dismantle the switch at this stage. If it's working correctly you'll only get continuity when the button is pressed. You can even do it with ignition off, so safe as houses. Conversely, if the issue happens again, a continuity check would tell you if the starter switch is stuck on for whatever reason. Then you can either fix it or look elsewhere. When these relays arrive I'll post up if they're any good, then for eight sovs you can check the relay in about two minutes if you're so inclined. Plus you'd have a spare anyway

 

Thought you had gotten your hands on a stop/start model

 

OK, no real test so far but I can tell you that the bike starts and the headlamp cuts out correctly. One slight issue may be the mounting tab, which is positioned quite close to the inside of the side panel, could possibly vibrate a bit? Equally, not hard to fizz it off with a junior hacksaw or similar. I've left it in so will see how things go when I take the bike out. One other thing, it has a higher current rating than the Hella one so that's no bad thing.