Hoping someone can help me out. I have a 2017 125cc gokart and it ran fine until my kid tried to start it with the fuel line turned to the off position. The starter ran until it just died. I replaced the battery, fuse, starter, plug, etc (all electronics outside of the engine) and no luck. I turn the key and just hear the new solenoid click. I shorted the two terminals on the solenoid and it still just clicks. The brake light works, and I never had to push the brake to start to begin with. Any ideas?

 

"I shorted the two terminals on the solenoid and it still just clicks."

If you short thick live from battery to thick live from starter motor, the solenoid shouldn't click, you may get a few sparks but the starter motor should run.

 

I fully charged the battery and tried to start it again. The solenoid just makes a clicking noise, with and without the two posts shorted with a screwdriver. Do you think the solenoid is bad? It is a new one off of ebay, but could be bad I guess.

 

Were you shorting the thick wires, the one from the battery pos and the one from starter motor? As no way should that make the solenoid click, it should by-pass it.

 

Yes, the fat wire from the battery and the fat wire to the starter motor. I didn't replace the starter motor yet, so I guess I could try that.

 

Yes, if the starter doesn't spin when you by pass the solenoid it, is the starter or earth lead at fault. Usually brushes stuck or worn down. On more expensive machines a new set of brushes is the cure but those Chinese starters for under 250cc machines, are so cheap, it is easiest to replace the whole starter.