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Help Me Fix ItA great place to post any problems you maybe having while working on your motorcycle. Most of us are do-it-yourselfers so this is a great way to share any information pertaining to fixing something or adding something on.
Hey everyone, I've got a project bike that won't exactly be a sportsbike when I'm done, but it won't look like a cruiser either. Anyway, I'm in the process of getting the carbs back into shape and I also need a new solenoid. I've extensively searched the web, and it's been incredibly difficult to even find a part # for an OEM solenoid.
During this search, I found 2 places where one person recommended to another that any Ford solenoid could be used in place of the OEM one. Now, I'd really like to do this if possible because it will probably save me $30 or so. I'd like some advice from a mechanic or two on whether this is possible, or at least from some of you knowledgeable people.
If you are a mechanic, is there any way you could give me the actual part number for the solenoid? It would be super cool if you could also give me a cross reference of bikes that use the same solenoid so I can ebay those also. Thanks!
EDIT: Oh shit, you probably want to know what bike it is. It's a 1982 Yamaha Virago VX750.
ive been working on a 85 xv700.....same bike, different jugs (had to use a flywheel from an 82 750).
any of the XV's from 82-87, with specific models (550, 700, 750, 900), should have the same components. if you really wanna ask someone, there is loads of info at viragotech.com.
this solenoid you speak of, im not exactly sure what ya mean...starter solenoid?
viragotech is down currently, but I can't wait until it gets up again. This is my first build so there will be tons of questions on my end.
Yeah, I was talking about the starter solenoid. The local salvage wants $45 for it. I've had a pretty hard time even finding them online. If I could pick up a ford one, or even a universal, that would be great because I'd probably only have to spend $15 or less. That said, I don't want to fuck anything up. Is a 12V solenoid the same as all the other 12V solenoids?
have you checked the starter clutch? if you are not familiar with this problem, you better start looking into it. the starter, starter clutch, and flywheel are very badly aligned in those motors. the clutch return spring was the problem with mine.....and you dont wanna try to find a new flywheel for these bitches.....$140 used, and it took 4 weeks to finally find it.
Like I said this is my first fixer, so this will be a major learning process for me. As far as the solenoid goes, I guess I can't say for sure, but when I do the old trick of bridging it with a screwdriver, the motor turns over. I assumed that it's because the solenoid is bad.
The $45 price tag could be worse, but if I can slap in a universal or ford solenoid brand spankin' new for $15, I'd rather go that route. The $45 one is used and could crap out in a week for all I know.
if youre bridging it, then the solenoid is definitely the problem. unless the relay is sticking, but thats easy to check. turn key on, hit starter button.
id say its worth a shot. the more i think about it, a solenoid is just a switch.....however, an issue i see that may arise is that a smaller motorcycle battery may not have enough cranking amps to activate the new solenoid. then again, for $15 bucks, you could always return the part if the battery is too small.
if youre bridging it, then the solenoid is definitely the problem. unless the relay is sticking, but thats easy to check. turn key on, hit starter button.
What would happen if the relay is sticking? I don't even really know if the starter button works for that matter, but assume it does.
id say its worth a shot. the more i think about it, a solenoid is just a switch.....however, an issue i see that may arise is that a smaller motorcycle battery may not have enough cranking amps to activate the new solenoid. then again, for $15 bucks, you could always return the part if the battery is too small.
Yeah, I just don't want to screw up anything in the process. I've asked this question on a yahoo group, which seems to be the congregation point while viragotech is down, and one guy said he was told by a tech that this could damage the rectifier. He didn't know if it was true or not, and neither do I.
sticking relay: if this happens, you dont get no juice to the solenoid. the relay contact is activated by the starter switch, which then lets the current flow to the solenoid. the solenoid engages the starter and turns the engine over. this is how our sportbikes work, but those starters have the solenoid mounted directly to the starter. in this case, its a remote solenoid.....so the operation will be slightly different. in this respect, i would say that a ford solenoid wouldn't work (automobile starters also piggyback the solenoid). i'll have a look when i get home to familiarize my self with the electrical system before i can say for sure. i'd hate to give bad advice from my bad memory.
rectifier damage: i didn't consider that....and it very well could be a possibility. solenoids pull a large amount of current....which could affect other electrical systems. considering the vintage of the bike, ill bet my left nut that there's no overload protection anywhere. not worth the risk imo, cause you dont wanna even price a rectifier. might as well start lubing up now.....
From the same site as before, the other guy says he talked to another tech, and this tech said that if a screwdriver didn't damage the rectifier, then how would another solenoid? Seems logical, but still nervous.
Do you know for sure that a solenoid from those bikes you mentioned in your first post will work? There's one on ebay I'm thinking about giving a whirl.
i know it for sure.....specifically, since i was looking for parts for mine, i found some info that talked about compatible bikes. the 82 750 is the same exact bike as mine (85 700), only the bore is different (import tariff bullshit). i actually have a flywheel from an 82 750 on mine now, so i know the engine is the same. the 920 is just a bigger jug, but the engine case is the same. i believe the change was made in 81, then again in 88. so any bikes in between should be compatible, with respect to the solenoid anyway. it doesn't make manufacturing sense to have multiple solenoids for essentially the same bike.
i checked last night and was slightly wrong about the relay. there is none. there is only the solenoid/relay, its a single part. so if you bridged the starter and it worked, you know your problem for sure.
Yamaha Solenoid
Linear Mode
