Jeez, I hate wrenching

[yamahamama]

So, I've been back & forth many times to my dealer since last fall, trying to get Venus to start reliably. Of course, she never acts up in front of the mechanic, but has caused me no end of missed rides, frustration & blood pressure points. I have an appointment today at an independent mechanic who mainly deals with racing bikes, high performance tuning etc., but I figure what the heck--if he can work on those, my stock machine should be a piece of cake.

In preparation for my appointment, I thought I'd check & see if Venus started last night. I examined the battery connections, which is about the extent of my electrical troubleshooting, and then pressed the starter. Grrrrr! Nothing, even though the battery tender has been plugged in for a week. So I walked the thing back into the garage & sat there, fuming. Then I started thumbing the starter. click. click. click. click. click. vrrrooo. click. click. Hey! Was it starting?! click. click. click. click. click. vrooooommmmmm. Hallelujah. It started. wtf? I loaded my gym bag & finished preparations for the next morning, not at all confident I'd have ignition in the morning. I did! It's been months since I rode to work & it was great.

Here's my question. And feel free to vote. Is my problem the starter itself, or the starter switch? What would point me in one direction or the other? Should I keep my appointment at the independent mech, or return yet again to the dealer with this new suggestion of replacing the switch or starter? By going to the independent, which is not convenient at all, geographically, I'd have to wait for him to order the part & return at a later date to have it installed. The local dealer is 3.5 miles from home & much easier to bum a ride from someone, leaving it there for as long as they need.

I just wanna ride. Dealing with service issues is a nightmare to me, to be exceeded only by my hatred of working on the machine myself.

 

[radman]

Could be either one. Gotta put a test light at the hot term on the starter. If it lights when you hit the switch, but no starter action, well......but if no light, bad switch and/or relay. If a bad section on the starter commutator, it can get juice but not turn but a hair, thats why repeated hits will eventually work. Me? I would suspect the relay before anything else.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

<snip>Should I keep my appointment at the independent mech, or return yet again to the dealer with this new suggestion of replacing the switch or starter?

Go to the one you feel is the most professional. Historically, Yamaha has had much experience with v-twin (Virago) starter problems -- so, there's much water-under-the-bridge for an experienced service tech. Whatever you do -- try to resist telling them what to repair. A good tech (or, service writer) will ask you many questions about symptoms you experience -- if he/she's good enough (and, you're open enough) they'll have a pretty good idea of the problem just from the Q&A. Don't be surpised if rad's correct about the starter relay -- poor/dirty/corroded high current contacts in the s/r act like what you're describing.Good luck.

 

[odot]

...and don't forget to check the ground on the relay. Seen those get crusty and screw starting up.

 

[Rogue]

I ...., and then pressed the starter. Grrrrr! Nothing, even though the battery tender has been plugged in for a week. So I walked the thing back into the garage & sat there, fuming. Then I started thumbing the starter. click. click. click. click. click. vrrrooo. click. click. Hey! Was it starting?! click. click. click. click. click. vrooooommmmmm. Hallelujah.

"Nothing' or "click. click. click. click. click."?

If nothing I would start checking the switch or relay.

If click click I would start with checking ground connections, Still could be starter or relay.

 

[NovaFlyer]

It's been my experience that the starter relays on the Roadies can go bad. Buddies died and gave similar erratic operation. FWIW.

Not sure if you have this bookmark, but it gives everything and anything regarding Roadies:

https://www.roadstarclinic.com/

 

[yamahamama]

It's been my experience that the starter relays on the Roadies can go bad. Buddies died and gave similar erratic operation. FWIW.
Not sure if you have this bookmark, but it gives everything and anything regarding Roadies:

https://www.roadstarclinic.com/

Thanks, all for your words of wisdom. I went ahead & saw the new mechanic & he diagnosed the problem in 20 minutes. The stator. Not sure what it'll cost to fix, but I'll certainly be going back for that. Not very convenient geographically, but hey. He solved the problem in less time than it takes to drink a cup of coffee & my dealer had 5 or 6 chances, a week each time, since last fall, with no positive results.

btw, this new guy started to explain what a stator does & what his testing revealed, but I just heard, "blah blah blah blah blah". That's ok, I tell myself. I have other strengths.