2004 California Stone not starter

[drdwb]

Anybody had good luck using this starter to replace theirs?
My wife’s 2004 Stone starter is shot, I’ve checked and rechecked, cleaned ground, fuses and swapped out relays. Did the jumping contact top pole to solenoid test it clicks but won’t turn it over. I took the started apart cleaned and reinstalled still no luck.  About 5 years ago I had a similar issue, took the started to a locale auto electrical shop, they found lots of metallic dust inside, cleaned it and it worked fine since then. But did tell me to expect failure down the road. Luckily I’m at home not on the road, So called local NAPA auto store they can get a new one by June 30, but it’s going to cost $225.00 this one from Amazon is a lot cheaper and will arrive sooner.

https://www.amazon.com/STARTER-MOTOR-GUZZI-CALIFORNIA-D6RA210/dp/B013SGAYTE

[Don G]

I have used a number of those, no failures yet, keep in mind that they are like a Bic lighter, buy two and put one on the shelf. Or you can buy another Valeo built Bic lighter....  DonG

[drdwb]

Thanks for the reply Don. Well it turns out I’m now looking for a different source of the no start issue.
I took the starter off the Stone and put on the starter from my 03 EV that works, but same problem, so I put the Stone starter on the EV, and it works, which rules out the starter.

When I push the starter I hear a feel a distinct click in the most rearward relay, so I swapped out known good relays and get the same click like it’s stuck, having cleaned all the contacts on battery and starter I’m now wondering where else to look. I did find a couple threads on the forum so I’m now going to dig through those. But just in case anyone thinks they know where I should look next feel free any input appreciated.

Oh when I brought the bike back from storage a month ago, it wouldn’t start, so I had my wife pull me with our four wheeler, after a couple try’s the bike started up, which made me think it was a starter issue, so I think I can say it’s nothing fuel, or mechanical.

[BMCMOTO]

Check the ground strap from the battery to engine at the engine connection, and of course all other smaller power and ground wires, especially any you've moved previously, especially the ones connected to the battery, easy to miss one when installing the battery.

Brian

[rtbickel]

Load test the battery

[guzzisteve]

That year has a relay dedicated to the idiot switches, check sidestand, neutral, etc

[drdwb]

Mr.RT wins the quiz of the day. After swapping out all relays with ones from the EV, resulting in no change. I did what RT suggested. It read good but placing a load on it quickly failed. Scratching my head thinking I can’t be so slow,I decided to swap the battery, behold the glorious sound of starter turning and bike firing up within couple cranks. As if the Stone was saying it’s about time you woke up. I could have saved several hours of looking for something sinister that wasn’t there. I turn 69 very soon maybe it’s time to consider rethinking other problems I’m thinking are more
complex than how they initially appear. …. Naw I think I’ll have a beer and pet the dog instead.

Thanks for the help to all who even considered chiming in.

Load test the battery

[bigbikerrick]

Well, you found the problem. Its strange how batteries fail in different ways these days of sealed AGM batteries. A while back, I started my 73 eldo, it fired up perfectly, I took off on a short ride to run some errands, and after riding about 3 miles, the bike just died, nothing would happen when you hit the starter, no dash lights or any sign of 12v power anywhere. The Motobatt battery that was about 2 years old just died, Poof! no warning of any kind, like slow cranking, or anything.
Rick D.

[drdwb]

Well, you found the problem. It’s strange how batteries fail in different ways these days of sealed AGM batteries.  The Motobatt battery that was about 2 years old just died, Poof! no warning of any kind, like slow cranking, or anything.
Rick D.

This is indeed funny, I recall back in the late 70s a bike battery was good for 2- maybe 3 years if you always filled it with water, kept it warm and occasionally charged it it the nonridding months, and might have bitched about it but that was the norm. The Stones AGM sealed battery is only 5 years old and always kept on a trickle tender when not being ridden. Meanwhile in my EV and Norge are Odyssey batteries that are 7 and 9 years old, so far no sign of failure.
Thinking back on the Stone battery issue I recall last year occasionally when starting it would click once than turn over, I just assumed I hadn’t found the loose or dirty connection, and it usually only occurred if the bike had sat for a couple days.

Sometimes having more than one bike means you’re not as familiar with any subtle changes/ signs the bike is giving you about little changes. And as long as it runs when you want it to you’re happy, ignoring those subtle signs.