Thread: Any ATV gurus here?

Originally Posted by woods223

Solenoid is clicking so electrical circuit is good to there. Most likely worn starter brushes. Easy job to remove starter and check. Brushes not expensive. Since starter still works periodically the armature should be good with a resurface. Some weeks we’ll do 3-4 starters for the week then do none for a month. Get the odd one which magnets crap themselves, new starter then.

You say that, but in my case the solenoid was clicking or the car was starting a lot of the time with the occasional nothing - total refusal. The earth was the issue, mega high resistance through the strap to the chassis. First time I tested it, it tested fine too. I have a thing where I test twice, legacy of marine with funky chunky bits growing in the electrics. Second time, complete refusal to make a circuit - no other changes (a WTF moment). You start second guessing yourself and pushing on the test leads harder in that situation... I hear that about rebuilding starters though, I did about 18 in my best month in marine electrical and most of the time in boats you have to pull half of the crap off the engine to get to the bloody thing! Nothing worse than getting the replacement starter in and finding out it fouls the heat exhanger or aftercooler and you can't get the original one with the OEM configuration any more. Time to do some sketchy sh1te!!!