No Start?? What am I missing....

jbrown57 · 02-22-2013, 04:19 PM

2000 Nomad 1500 Carbed 73k miles
Rode around town doing errands, last stop park the bike go in come out won't start.
Disassembled in parking lot down to taking off the tank checking coil connections etc.
have spark, spins but will not hit. checked and gapped plugs, full tank of gas.
All of the fused checked good. Is there a master relay or fusible link somewhere that I am missing?
any and all suggestions welcome.
Thanks and best regards,
jbrown

**MAS Tequila** · 02-22-2013, 04:48 PM

Clutch and sidestand switches?

MT

**ringadingh** · 02-22-2013, 05:18 PM

If it has spark at the plugs and cranks it should fire if the battery is good. A weak battery will crank and show a spark also but will not fire.
It sounds like you may not be getting fuel to the motor, are you sure you have gas? also check for cracked rubber hoses and carb boot. If you can give it a squirt of raw fuel into the intake and see if that will make it fire.

chainsaw · 02-22-2013, 05:34 PM

Cut off switch ?

waterman · 02-22-2013, 05:39 PM

If it has spark it isn't a switch somewhere. Battery would be my first guess.

zoom45 · 02-22-2013, 06:33 PM

Mine is a 2000 carbed model and did the same. It was an intermittent problem for months till I finally found the start relay was corroded. To find it take the coolant tank off the right side. The relay is behind the coolant tank in front of the battery. There should be a connector with a red plug. Disconnect it and there is a green 30 amp fuse inside. Mine had the flaky green corrosion in it. I cleaned it up real good and it fixed my problem. I haven't had any more trouble with it. The connector controls the fire to the ignition switch white wire. I guess the corrosion kept voltage from going through it.
Zoom45

Bud2rat · 02-22-2013, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoom45

Mine is a 2000 carbed model and did the same. It was an intermittent problem for months till I finally found the start relay was corroded. To find it take the coolant tank off the right side. The relay is behind the coolant tank in front of the battery. There should be a connector with a red plug. Disconnect it and there is a green 30 amp fuse inside. Mine had the flaky green corrosion in it. I cleaned it up real good and it fixed my problem. I haven't had any more trouble with it. The connector controls the fire to the ignition switch white wire. I guess the corrosion kept voltage from going through it.
Zoom45

I had the exact smae thing happen to mine. +1

jbrown57 · 02-23-2013, 09:50 AM

Thanks guys will check the fuse and starter solenoid connection.
I had already checked the sidestand and clutch switches and connections.
This is a great forum an thanks again
I will post results.
jbrown

Loafer · 02-23-2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoom45

Mine is a 2000 carbed model and did the same. It was an intermittent problem for months till I finally found the start relay was corroded. To find it take the coolant tank off the right side. The relay is behind the coolant tank in front of the battery. There should be a connector with a red plug. Disconnect it and there is a green 30 amp fuse inside. Mine had the flaky green corrosion in it. I cleaned it up real good and it fixed my problem. I haven't had any more trouble with it. The connector controls the fire to the ignition switch white wire. I guess the corrosion kept voltage from going through it.
Zoom45

I have an '01 FI Nomad, and I too had the same problem. I hope it is an easy fix.

cactusjack · 02-23-2013, 10:33 AM

How old is your battery?

talon · 02-23-2013, 09:17 PM

My wife's 900 Vulcan is doing same thing. Everything seems great one second, then it won't start. Where is the solenoid connection for hers? Anyone know?

jbrown57 · 02-26-2013, 10:50 AM

I finally got a couple of hours to work on the bike.
I found the 30A fuse and red connector on the starter solenoid. There was some light corrosion on the connector but not serious. Cleaned it well and sprayed with contact cleaner. No Joy. Pulled plugs and checked for compression all good. Plugs gapped and cleaned. I am getting a weak spark. Double checked stand switch and found a couple of nicks in the wiring to the switch where it is routed along the frame. Will put bike on lift and repair this in next day or so. Rainy and cold in GA this week so limited work time. My battery is a bit weak so I have one on order, but currently connecting to truck via jumper cables for troubleshooting. Anyone had troubles with the ignition control module or know how to check? Also how do you check coils? Any other suggestions??
best regards
jbrown

1500ccs · 02-26-2013, 11:16 AM

Are you able to jump start it? Sounds like a bad battery mostly.

**ringadingh** · 02-26-2013, 11:55 AM

The manual shows how to check coils, but I cant remember if you need special equipment or not.

zoom45 · 02-26-2013, 12:15 PM

It can't hurt to pull the left engine side cover so you can check all the connectors around the clutch cylinder. Everything electrical on the bike seems to be mounted in that area with connectors. A lot of dirt/oil etc washes down in that area and will get in the connectors. The connectors for the electrical components all plug in the same area.
Zoom45

02-22-2013, 04:19 PM	#1
jbrown57 Jr. Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hull GA Posts: 18	No Start?? What am I missing.... 2000 Nomad 1500 Carbed 73k miles Rode around town doing errands, last stop park the bike go in come out won't start. Disassembled in parking lot down to taking off the tank checking coil connections etc. have spark, spins but will not hit. checked and gapped plugs, full tank of gas. All of the fused checked good. Is there a master relay or fusible link somewhere that I am missing? any and all suggestions welcome. Thanks and best regards, jbrown __________________ Black 2000 Vulcan Nomad 1500 V&H Baggers Vroc #20026 Darkside #470 (Falken 205/65/16) Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

02-22-2013, 04:48 PM	#2
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	Clutch and sidestand switches? MT __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
	0

02-22-2013, 05:18 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	If it has spark at the plugs and cranks it should fire if the battery is good. A weak battery will crank and show a spark also but will not fire. It sounds like you may not be getting fuel to the motor, are you sure you have gas? also check for cracked rubber hoses and carb boot. If you can give it a squirt of raw fuel into the intake and see if that will make it fire. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

02-22-2013, 05:39 PM	#5
waterman Top Contributor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,530	If it has spark it isn't a switch somewhere. Battery would be my first guess. __________________ Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

02-22-2013, 06:33 PM	#6
zoom45 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Terry, Mississippi Posts: 1,434	Mine is a 2000 carbed model and did the same. It was an intermittent problem for months till I finally found the start relay was corroded. To find it take the coolant tank off the right side. The relay is behind the coolant tank in front of the battery. There should be a connector with a red plug. Disconnect it and there is a green 30 amp fuse inside. Mine had the flaky green corrosion in it. I cleaned it up real good and it fixed my problem. I haven't had any more trouble with it. The connector controls the fire to the ignition switch white wire. I guess the corrosion kept voltage from going through it. Zoom45 __________________ Bobby Risher Terry, MS Kawanow member # 124 South Central Group 2000 Nomad 1500 (carbed) 128,000 miles
	0

02-22-2013, 05:34 PM	#4
chainsaw Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,732	Cut off switch ?
	0

02-23-2013, 09:50 AM	#8
jbrown57 Jr. Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hull GA Posts: 18	Thanks guys will check the fuse and starter solenoid connection. I had already checked the sidestand and clutch switches and connections. This is a great forum an thanks again I will post results. jbrown __________________ Black 2000 Vulcan Nomad 1500 V&H Baggers Vroc #20026 Darkside #470 (Falken 205/65/16)
	0

02-23-2013, 10:33 AM	#10
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	How old is your battery? __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

02-23-2013, 09:17 PM	#11
talon Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Van Buren, AR Posts: 462	My wife's 900 Vulcan is doing same thing. Everything seems great one second, then it won't start. Where is the solenoid connection for hers? Anyone know? __________________ Heath Cady aka "Talon" VBA #01416 2012 Vaquero SE Candy-Lime Green/Black aka "T'Kehla" 2005 Nomad 1600 Black/Silver aka "Mystique" (SOLD) 2006 Vulcan Classic aka "Lil'Wolf" (SOLD) "Life isn't a race; no one gets out alive. May as well slow down and enjoy the ride."
	0

02-26-2013, 10:50 AM	#12
jbrown57 Jr. Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hull GA Posts: 18	no start update I finally got a couple of hours to work on the bike. I found the 30A fuse and red connector on the starter solenoid. There was some light corrosion on the connector but not serious. Cleaned it well and sprayed with contact cleaner. No Joy. Pulled plugs and checked for compression all good. Plugs gapped and cleaned. I am getting a weak spark. Double checked stand switch and found a couple of nicks in the wiring to the switch where it is routed along the frame. Will put bike on lift and repair this in next day or so. Rainy and cold in GA this week so limited work time. My battery is a bit weak so I have one on order, but currently connecting to truck via jumper cables for troubleshooting. Anyone had troubles with the ignition control module or know how to check? Also how do you check coils? Any other suggestions?? best regards jbrown __________________ Black 2000 Vulcan Nomad 1500 V&H Baggers Vroc #20026 Darkside #470 (Falken 205/65/16)
	0

02-26-2013, 11:16 AM	#13
1500ccs Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 87	Are you able to jump start it? Sounds like a bad battery mostly.
	0

02-26-2013, 11:55 AM	#14
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	The manual shows how to check coils, but I cant remember if you need special equipment or not. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

02-26-2013, 12:15 PM	#15
zoom45 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Terry, Mississippi Posts: 1,434	It can't hurt to pull the left engine side cover so you can check all the connectors around the clutch cylinder. Everything electrical on the bike seems to be mounted in that area with connectors. A lot of dirt/oil etc washes down in that area and will get in the connectors. The connectors for the electrical components all plug in the same area. Zoom45 __________________ Bobby Risher Terry, MS Kawanow member # 124 South Central Group 2000 Nomad 1500 (carbed) 128,000 miles
	0