starter relay

Starterrelais, Anlasserrelais oder auch Magnetschalter genannt

Errors and malfunctions of the solenoid switch or starter relay

Typical fault:
Clacking sound of the solenoid switch and the starter does not work, the solenoid switch clacks, the starter relay clacks, the starter motor clacks when starting. If you have this error so a clacking sound when starting.

The cause is usually a weak or defective battery, for this please charge the battery completely or change the battery in case of a layer shortage. To test the battery, with multimeter set to voltage range 0V-20V, plus and minus connect to the battery, the rest voltage should be between 12.5 V and 12.8V, when actuating the starter, the voltage should not fall below 11.5V, if this is the case then the battery should be fully charged and the test must be repeated, you have the same result and the voltage falls again and 11.5 volts , then the battery must be replaced.

Battery has too low voltage which is still enough for the relay to respond but due to the high current to the starter the voltage of the battery collapses so the relay drops again and the game repeats. This causes the continuous clacking due to the relay armature which is constantly tightening and dropping again as long as the starter button is pressed.  

Starter relay defective Symptoms
Starter relay does not work.

Cause can be a defective start button (contact problem -in lantern parkers), cable interruption start button to relay, or from relay to battery.

Start relay defective (break in coil or contact burnout).

Starter relay pulls in, but starter does not work.

This may be caused by high contact resistance (verdigris, loose screw connection, etc.) of the thick cables at the relay and at the starter (the current is not sufficient for the starter).

Incorrect polarization of the relay B+M or M+B meaning battery and starter.

Possible starter defects

Worn carbons of the starter motor a possible cause
(easy to check Starting with lights on and light does not dim, battery voltage changes little during starting).
Defective (seized, rusted) bearings of the starter motor.
Defective starter freewheel (engine is blocked).
(during starting the light gets noticeably dimmer, battery voltage collapses noticeably)
Limitation of the error is with multimeter (voltage measurement 20V range)
Check voltage at the start button, when trying to start measure at the start relay input of the winding and check if it is connected through at the thick cable and arrives at the starter.

The relay can be removed and checked for accurate testing.
Set multimeter with resistance measurement (range 200 ohms). Clamp test probes to the thick battery terminals. Minus connection of a 12 volt battery to the minus side of the relay (see wiring diagram from motorcycle) and

Battery positive to the positive side of the solenoid switch (wiring diagram - connection to the start button).

The solenoid switch must now switch through and a resistance of 0 ohms must be measured on the multimeter. If the resistance is much higher than 0 Ohm, the relay (contacts) is defective.

If the relay does not switch through (winding interrupted), you will not hear the armature clack.

Measure the resistance of the winding with a multimeter at the thin terminals and compare with the information in the workshop manual.
Our starter relays are made from accessories but in OEM quality.
All starter relays are tested with up to 150 amps switching current.

The manufacturer of our starter relays is ISO 9001 certified.

Do not get involved with cheap imports for your motorcycle that are only half the weight, on these relays is often saved with the winding and thus the quality of the goods, and these will not be of long service life.

So do not hesitate, look around on our site, it should be the right TYPE for you, please note, with some models is the polarity, easy to recognize by the connections, B and M, this is always meant B-connection always towards the battery, and M-connection always towards the engine, so speak towards the starter, if you catch a wrong polarity, then the starter would run in all the time, please avoid as far as possible.

During assembly, always ensure clean contacts, these may be cleaned with wire brush or sandpaper beforehand, possibly a contact lubricant can also be used, such as contact spray or contact grease or a battery pole grease.

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