Starter solenoid (relay)

How it works and repair options. Everything with an electric start button has a starter relay (from chainsaws to snowmobiles), they all work like this.

[@nigelsmith3440]

I cannot understand why 111 people do not like this video. You have explained exactly what happens inside a solenoid.Many thanks for taking the trouble.

[@theoverengineer]

No worries, thanks for watching.

[@jrsmontana1958]

Great video for anyone that wishes to try their hand at DIY repairs. Keep them coming. If you know the number of windings or length of wire as well as the wire guage, you can service these solenoids yourself and a little lacquer thinner will clean the wire tips off so you can solder them. Practice, practice, practice. Enjoyed your video.

[@theoverengineer]

Thanks for watching

[@paleroller]

While I am sorry for your $70 loss...THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the thorough explanation of the starter solenoid!!!

[@Itisinthehand]

Good vid. I learned that the copper wire is coated. Just went and placed a magnet on the underside of the problem solenoid. Didn't activate the plunger. Pushed wire into joiner seeing there was metal showing and exorcised the demon. Working.Subbed.

[@chrpchr1christodoulou476]

You just prevented the future loss of €50 or more. Thank you.

[@ManifoldSky]

As you seem to acknowledge in the comments, you CAN repair the coil by removing the insulation layer, joining the leads, then reinsulating. If the leads are too short, unwinding on turn will not affect operation, and will give you more than enough length to reconnect the leads.

[@alexanderbrodie2149]

You explain things better than most of my college professors! Thank you!

[@gemmakitty3558]

Hey man, I love you. You said not to repair but after watching this video I am sure i can repair my Pulsar 150 motorcycle(bike) relay... You saved my 250 rupees.

[@theoverengineer]

gemma Kitty Good on you, bro. Yup, re-winding one is implied if you have the right wire and time.

[@Ryan-hp6xt]

I literally just did this, mine died, so I wanted to take it apart to see how it worked. Mine doesn't have a coil like that, it's got one iron cylinder with a coil inside of that, it just sits in there. But to get mine apart I had to drimmel the case off. nice video man, curious minds!

[@davidives7997]

I learnt something useful. Thanks . I've now ordered a new relay on the strength of this

[@mohammadjavadfarshid1804]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the thorough explanation of the starter solenoid

[@theoverengineer]

You are welcome!

[@fonc7294]

Very well explained Detailed all the components and how they work very good job .

[@michaelmanabagu9663]

Thanks that really helped. Hope many others find this video helpful just as much as I did.

[@bangyai3194]

Great explanation. Very thorough and simple to understand without any waffle. Nice job

[@sphinxpx2936]

Thank you for explaining this to me in a way I could understand.

[@theoverengineer]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kleenrite5550]

But on my Chevy pickup 350 CID, I disassemble my starter solenoid, and clean & file the contacts. Works, great.

[@jimmyhall9593]

great explanation! I've changed them out numerous times, never knew exactly how it worked. always just chalked it up as magic. lol.

[@Peterboatbuilder]

Thank you. I was just checking my solenoid and I thought it would be a good idea to check you tube. You helped me.

[@Lecon60]

Excellent Explanation. Same principle for a doorbell.

[@joeygemini6390]

Thank you for sacrificing your starter solenoid/relay. Nothing teaches better than actual parts actually moving during an explanation. The movement of the plunger also engages the small gear on the starter motor with the flywheel gear, correct? Had no idea about the varnish on the winding. Very good to know. Thanks again! Joel in Columbia South Carolina USA

[@theoverengineer]

Thanks for watching, Joel M.! Correct, the plunger closes the gap so current can spin the rotor with the small gear mounted on it. Here is some video about inside the motor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3argn16nd2NmZI

[@donalfredisaac]

you were right, the battery somehow was discharged, so I charged it and it started right away. Thank you again.

[@guldglubber8334]

Fantastic Info-"and very clever and good explanation"! (Thank you so much)!

[@Khalil_IbrahimOfficial]

I would still very carefully try to remove the thin insulation at the end with a blade and solder it. That's what we did when we did motor rewinding.

[@PralaynathGendaswamyF.C.S]

Beautifully explained Sir!

[@theoverengineer]

Thanks a ton

[@moosey62]

Thanks so much, sir. Super presentation.

[@tryingtofigureitout2318]

Nice tutorial.Simple and to the point!

[@fracovidalleona]

EVERYDAY LEARNING WONDERFUL

[@danielirvine7468]

You are an awesome teacher thanks for the tips

[@theoverengineer]

You are so welcome!

[@kenclarke4906]

Anything you can take apart and reassemble is serviceable. Parts may not be available from the manufacturer, But that would make one a parts replace man not a repairman.

[@PlayMates_]

To anyone watching this in 2020 you can resolder that wire.. if you mistakenly cut it...

[@benedictrehiesi5166]

Thank you, I was just about to pull it apart, I even unscrewed the top.

[@stG1992]

An exemplary tutorial! Thanks mate

[@graysonmorgan5018]

Very informative, Cheers! gonna replace the solenoid on my motorcycle

[@savemars4383]

very well explained.

[@louisebrugman5209]

"Electricity is MAGNETIC!"

[@Armageddon-qo4wy]

Louise Brugman you have a nice smile

[@peterpalmer630]

I don't see why the varnish can't be removed just from the end of the cables. The outer take a turn off the coil for one side, solder an extension to the other side, insulate with shrink hose or whatever and solder the whole thing together. It's fiddly work but should be fixable easily enough I would think.

[@theoverengineer]

It can be done no problem. Just hoping never to do it. ...

[@rockywr]

Very nicely explained. Good job.

[@albertnickson3527]

rockywr l

[@juliocesarvargas6665]

I am so glad for this explanation..thanks for your time ..congrats...

[@steveramos3603]

Thank you sir. You explained very well. Thanks once again.

[@troylee7897]

Detailed and thorough. Thanks

[@wolfprince6584]

Never gonna work u say? Challenge accepted

[@bobbyhosweden]

Great video. Thanks from Sweden!

[@JavedAmanullah]

Awesome video. Great explanation. Thanks.

[@calibrandproductions2117]

The button to start sending electricity to the coil to create a magnet electromagnet the pool is the plunger Is that circuit running in its own Wires from ground to the battery

[@GregRband]

Very helpful, thanks so much for explaining all this....

[@dwightbjork1354]

can't you sand the varnish in order to weld the tips together in order to make the solenoid be able to work?

[@theoverengineer]

You can but it`s faster to burn some off with a lighter.

[@CSSIandAssociate]

You are so funny in your comments. Sometimes I just can't stop laughing about it.

[@mjgutierrez262]

Apresar de que no entiendo ni una palabra de lo que dice, la explicación gráfica me ayudó mucho, vientos krnal, CONGRATULATIONS

[@theoverengineer]

MJ Gutiérrez Haga clic en "subtítulos", escríbalo en el Traductor de Google

[@konggoballz]

+theoverengineer Hi my starter relay has a fuse on it so i wanted to ask will the fuse blow before the starter relay die's?

[@theoverengineer]

Yes, If 1 fuse and relay are connected in series, 2 the same gauge of wire is going through the fuse as the one feeding the relay 3 fuse has good contact and 4 fuse is the right size (in Amps) then yes, it is designed so. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZofKo5t8ndB7aM0 about size of fuses, Amps and heat.

[@jerrybriardy]

This is great but Where is it located in the bike and how do you change it?

[@billybunter230]

Very informative, ta very much.

[@Manjrvblog]

Really helping me a lot .. Thanks

[@jaywalkur]

Very nicely explained

[@Dans_DIY]

@ theoverengineer nice explanation.. i just fixed my Honda CD125 solenoid.. Thank you.. !!

[@powerbylightfutureisnow1579]

The insulate coil wire dose not need to be. it will work anyway. The real problem is the wire is so thin that it will corroud and break the electrical connection. if you were able to attach the wires and put nail polish or lacker coat on the wires it would work. wire coils do not need to be insulated to work as a magnetic. but will increase resistance is wet or dirty.

[@grahams56]

surely if it is not insulated it will not act as a coil?!!.... If the wire is touching the current will just pass across the closest point, not follow the path of the coil

[@vkapoor69]

I don't understand why you can't strip the varnish and re-solder the broken wires. You can unwind one turn if the wires are too short to repair. I have soldered broken windings that have been working fine for years. You need a soldering iron and some soldering wire which costs ~$10.

[@theoverengineer]

I burn the varnish off usually

[@paulanstall1215]

Very nice explanation. Thank you.

[@sing3861]

Thanks... Very valuable information

[@AlexofSmeg]

great explanation. shame it's not a pre engaging one

[@edsabado7107]

very informative. thank you

[@valcic1993]

Ok. But why my solonoit kick out and starter turn in empty like no energi to push solonoid to flywheel tooth

[@raghvendrasingh-qu2zv]

Why don't u rewind the coil on cylinder which has been short leaking

[@amarjeetrattiwal8166]

Very nice .. good video

[@234dilligaf]

Cool man. Great job here.

[@theoverengineer]

Hey, thanks!

[@afo45td]

I ran across the same issue with the varnish when repairs the newer three phase motors used in electric airplane motors. About a 16th inch of each wire can be scraped with a razor blade/ small exacto blade, being careful to scrape all the way around the coper wire. You will easily see the luster of the cooper brighten up when correct. Now the solder will easily adhere to the remaining cooper lead wires which must be done the same way and insulate the soldered spot with spray on rubber. You are up and running with $70 still in pocket. Help me here please ? 2013 overheat razor required the fan breaker replacement. During that removal and replacement it requires the breaker to be pressed down into the short 8 inch portion of the wiring harness. The end of that part of wiring harness, that the fan breaker broke came loose, only leaving part of the metal ring that held the three wires together. I can not for the life of me see where it broke loose from ? Where in that area near the started relay/solenoid did the wire connect ????? Blind, only got half of GED and very old.

[@theoverengineer]

Here is how the circuit is likely to be like. Turn the power ON and find ANY wire with a voltage of 12.5V or so (batt. +). This should run to the thermostat (a switch that closes the circuit at a set temperature). With the thermostat on, power should run to the fan motor, then through the fan breaker (another switch to open circuit if the fan motor gets overloaded), then to battery (-). So nothing to do with starter relay - starter motor circuit. Actual proximity is coincidental.

[@CannonMan391]

Okay, so, might sound dumb, but why don't you just rewire and re-varnish the coil?

[@sounddoctorin]

TO repair it you have to get some poisonous compound used for removing varnish on wire (Strip X or equiv.) THen you can solder to the wires again. I was just hoping to find a video that reminds me what R and S are. I forgot which wire was used. lol... I'll find it somewhere

[@theoverengineer]

Most people just burn off the varnish by a lighter. Solder the wires any way you like, it`s just a switch.

[@sounddoctorin]

theoverengineer There's always a question of what residue may still be embedded in the wire such that you get an iffy solder joint. You can always rake the wire with a blade edge afterward all around to be sure but the simply way if you have it is strip X. Fender had a bunch of reverb cans made in mexico some years back. The coils use finer wire in these and so you can't really scrape those without breaking the wire usually. They managed to get them out of the factory working but one by one the acoustasonic amp's reverbs failed due to that coil connection being improperly prepped.

[@bh7480]

I just be replaced a starter solenoid on my KLR 650 motorcycle a week later the starter was clicking again that's solenoid came from China I guess that was the big mistake where else can I get them from the original one is from Hitachi from Japan that didn't last too long either I don't know what's going on but I guess I'm going to go try to find a car solenoid that's not too big okay nice demonstration have a good one.

[@HasanALi-lj7mx]

I bought a new solenoid starter relay and sometimes when I turn the moped on i still get a hesitate start. I changed the the spark plug but it acts up sometimes when i start it.

[@technicalnj2337]

Great job brother

[@keithshreve6736]

Very good. Thanks very much. I enjoyed watching.

[@Homehous]

Great video, good information, thx

[@marek35]

Thanks for this explanation. I have problem with my chinese starter that stopped working. I found these two main contacts on solenoid have 12V which suprised me a lot. Because if they have both 12V it means solenoid is switched ON and therefore starter should be running, but there is nothing like that. Im confused now.

[@theoverengineer]

Keep tracing the volts on and inside the starter kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3argn16nd2NmZI

[@marek35]

I will try it again

[@nestorbendulo]

Wow this is very informative

[@jrodjucel]

Thanx for the great info

[@deepakpareek9]

It's cost is hardly 4$ in india that too for original part.

[@robertz5958]

Hey I'm with these guys thanks so much for the video and hopefully you get at least $70 worth of good karma for it!!!!! Cheers Robert

[@gulabkeerio1930]

good job

[@samimoring1235]

very informative. that being said..im trying to figure out your accent.. i hear irish & a touch of spanish

[@craftman3343]

really nice bro...u did it good

[@2391jessie]

Excellent - thanks!

[@KiRae08]

The starter on my skidoo keeps jumping and even when it's on you can still hear clicking. Even when the skidoo and key is turned off it still starts up. I had to take the fuse out so it stays turned off. I'm wondering if I need to replace the solenoid? Or what else it can be.

[@theoverengineer]

Something somewhere closes the circuit and wouldn`t open. Stuck springs are found in switches too, so check all, such as starter button, kill switch, ignition lock, starter relay. Probably just needs soot scraping, no new parts.

[@twoy3831]

Like a 4 way relay. That what i see it is.

[@Tex1680]

Why don't you just use some acetone and remove a little bit of the varnish from the end of the coil???

[@theoverengineer]

I just burn it off

[@ricktv3514]

excellent

[@dotcom2936]

If the solenoid is not good can is heat the main wire?

[@lordknows6635]

@theoverengineer great explanation and detail! really appreciate it.quick question sr. my solenoid, battery and cables on a motorcycle got wet from a freeway crash in the rain, replaced battery,checked wires ,and all fuses are good even the solenoid.but the buzzing continues to happen and no start please what do you suggest I try next before going to far.i thinking -& + wires? can they be damaged by the water ?

[@theoverengineer]

Do this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYC0pYOrhZeKn8U to see if the starter runs by itself. Let me know. Wires don`t go wrong, usually.

[@shannonpeters196]

if your starter motor has been wet or submerged, your brushes in the starter motor could be stuck due to some corrosion. simply disassemble, and clean , and make sure that the brushes move freely and make contact with the armature.

[@nisw1918]

So what if you unwound it counting the wraps and got some new wire and wrapped it the same number of turns and put it back together then it would be like new right ?

[@nisw1918]

I have a coil thats not buyable so thats what I will have to try wish me luck as to if it will work .

[@theoverengineer]

nisw1918 It will work with coated (varnished) wire of the same diameter, same number of turns and same length. People do this for a living, called motor winding technicians.

[@nisw1918]

After some more research I found out edelbrock sells replacement coils for their nitrous injector for 25 Bucks I think I will try that see if its the same size etc. so its ready made and proven .

[@theoverengineer]

nisw1918 Do let me know how it turned out, shoot & share a video if you have time. Thanks for the tip.

[@roykinner2776]

+theoverengineerI got something dumb to ask just not sure soo don't judge can you charge that thing

[@Itseasierthanwemakeit]

Is there a way to test to see if one is working properly?

[@theoverengineer]

Yes. When assembled and powered, the plunder should move up/down

[@phillipsens]

very helpfull, thanks

[@johnmadigan151]

Love ur video. Hope you can help me with some advice. My piaggio mp3 is clicking when I try to start it. Hence won’t start. Took battery out and had it checked and it’s ok. I am thinking it’s the solenoid....relay. Could you tell me is it very difficult to change. Many thanks John

[@theoverengineer]

Yeah, ... noooo, ... connect a jumper cample on that battery and start the bike. See what happens.

[@beefstu6857]

if the 2 small wires are broke would u still hear the plunger jumping?

[@theoverengineer]

Plunger will not move if circuit is open anywhere.

[@robertfrankjensen2071]

Bmontering af tændingskontakt i Citroën c5.

[@jovanvlah6898]

Thank you

[@kaoseast1]

thank you

[@xinic5]

Would anyone know why I have had this replaced in the past and it was pretty cheap, but yesterday the mechanic charged $160 for it? I haven't paid yet, so maybe there was something else they had to replaced that they didn't tell me (the receipt usually shows where exactly all the costs come from). I didn't realize the starter rely and starter solenoid were the same thing (they are right? lol) This place has always seemed trust worthy, I mean they let me take my truck without paying anything yet and waiting until later in the week when I get paid....

[@theoverengineer]

xinic5 Yes, relay = solenoid. Do type up the items and their costs from that receipt while you wait for that pay cheque., Could be all right, but it needs some good explanation on the shop`s part why the same repair now costs a lot more.

[@TheBear9000]

xinic5 That seems to me like a decent amount to charge. On a car or a bike they can be a pain in the ass to get to.

[@xinic5]

TheBear On an 88 f150 (Or at least mine) they are on the right of the engine at near the top of the hood. Very easy to access.

[@wep0wer]

*Won't crank.* Hi, I have Kawasaki Ninja 250r 2009. Battery is good. It won't crank. It makes clicking sound from a part right next to battery terminal. Please help. Thanks in advance.

[@theoverengineer]

Could be a loose (+) cable at the starter. Remove kzbin.info?o=U&video_id=t3Dul-lUiD0 and test kzbin.info?o=U&video_id=_OQtPuP2Wic the starter.

[@theoverengineer]

Good, good. Nice video, too. Pull out the starter and find out how that runs.

[@williamt1083]

Hello. My GS500 won't power on (no lights, nothing in the dash) even when jumped - do I have a bad starter solenoid?

[@theoverengineer]

Sounds like a short in the harness. See this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5q4daSEf7udhrc

[@3.m.d273]

Question for small pocket bike .x7 the coil ignition wiring negative n positive that go to the spark plug shuts wiring to the battery ??

[@theoverengineer]

Here is my video Engine Electronics. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHbcpJR7oNl2jqM Ignition coil electrical check starts at 26:45 to 29:30, other ignition system components are also included. Check coil pack insulation and coil winding resistance. You might have a fault in the harness, like in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5q4daSEf7udhrc

[@flagday84]

Does it matter which way the current flows across a solenoid? I am installing one in an outboard motor and not sure which cables should hook up to which bolts (I know the small wires go on the small and big on big)

[@MrChandrabala]

+Aaron Hodgins Davis it doesnt matter hook starter motor to one terminal and battery to another and switch to smaller terminal and you are good to go..

[@flagday84]

Cool, thank you!

[@rickedwards7276]

If you were talking about the small wires that are attached to the coil, it does matter. If you hook them up backwards, the punter will try and go in the wrong direction. The large terminals that are actually the switched current don’t matter.

[@TruthSeekers369]

You should have just soldered the 2 wires back together then use liquid electrical tape to insulate the wires and walla, it's fixed.

[@sarahgracebrooks2629]

+MrNiceGuy THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE TOO!

[@ManifoldSky]

Wrong. Soldering the two leads together does nothing, since they are STILL INSULATED. You have to sand the insulation off first, then connect the leads. Then insulate the connection.