My buddy just bought an 85 Honda Shadow that needed some work. It wasn't getting fuel, so he rebuilt the carb, cleaned the fuel lines, and tried starting it. It would turn over once or twice, but not start. We sprayed some starter fluid into the carb, and it would run for a second until the fluid was burned up, and then die.

We removed the fuel pump and ran two direct leads from the battery, neg and pos, to the corresponding terminals to the plug on the pump to see if it was pumping. We could hear it spinning, so I don't think its that, and we reconnected it.

Problem is, ever since we did that, when we try to start it, there's nothing. The lights come on and the horn works, but when we push the button to start, there's no noise, no clicks, no nothing. It acting like a car when the starter dies, but I don't see how we could have damaged that.

Any ideas? Our next step is to tote it over to Hampton Roads Battery if no one can offer any suggestions. Anything you can offer is appreciated.

 

it could be anything... i would go over EVERYTHING.. wires, battery, carbs again, cockpit, plugs, wires, coils, WIRES.

 

Is the kickstand up ? Is it in Neutral ? Check these. Dumb things can really make you mad..

 

check the starter button contacts. the fuel pump is connected to the starter button (starts pumping when you hit the button)

easy way to check it to check for a 12v signal at the starter solenoid. if you get nothing, you have bad contacts, or messed up wiring.

and honestly, if you jumped the fuel pump, it'll fill the float bowls to some degree, and SHOULD run for a minute or two, if it dies after that, you probably have a pump and/or relay problem ( not uncommon on those bikes)

you can also put your hand on the fuel pump while you hit the start button (after you get it to crank over, obviously) and you should feel it pulse while you're spinning it over.