Hey all! I am just getting into quads, so I dont know a ton about them. I do however have a good mechanical and electrical background. I just picked up a 98 bayou 220 2x4 for a great deal. The machine will not turn over using the start switch. So:

* The key switch has power, and lights up the dash
* I have working headlights
* I have continuity on all wires for the thumb control, down to the harness connection
* I have continuity on the two pins when the starter button is pushed in
* Battery to frame ground has continuity
* Solenoid to starter has continuity
* The starter does engage if I jump the solenoid
* The 20 amp fuse in the solenoid is good
* I have no tail lights

Please let me know if you all have any insight here. Thank you in advance!

 

Right, according to the wiring diagram I have, which is European and only to 1995, a white takes pos from the fuse on the solenoid to the ignition switch, and the brown fetches it back from ignition switch, when on, to power the solenoid. However on the negative side there is another solenoid. Neg comes from start button to this solenoid when pressed, looks like a black wire but the colour indicators are blurry on my diagram. Light green from neutral switch also goes to this solenoid, another brown provides pos for it and, with ignition is on and bike in neutral, another black takes neg from this solenoid to fire the main starter solenoid, when start button is pressed.

 

A quick check looks like I have all of the same wires. I will look at this a bit deeper after work and see if the issue lies here somewhere. I appreciate your time and effort to help me!

 

So when you press the starter button nothing at all happens?

 

Yes, that is correct.

 

This may seem basic, but I recently got a Bayou, and found a few things about starting them...

1. Is it in neutral, with the green light ON?
2. Is the red kill switch on the left handle set to RUN?

I had a similar problem some years ago. My buddy rode it, and it would not started again the next day. Could not find anything wrong. Turns out, he had used the kill switch button. I never used the kill switch, so didn't even look there. I felt dumb, but I was glad that's all it was.

I have read where the the kill switch goes bad, and it causes the exact symptoms you have.

I hope you find the problem, and it's that simple.

 

Hi so I bought 1990 bayou thats having some wiring issues similar to yours. i was able to fix them but mine had no ground wire to the harness the solenoid was also broken. You should check the solenoid using your multi meter check both the trigger terminals. If thats your problem you can replace it or try opening the can and fixing it. to do that I would first desolder the two trigger terminals. Then open the can and pull the can apart. youll need to extend the magnet wires and then resolder to the trigger terminals. When you put it back together everything should work well.

 

If you can jump the solenoid and it starts, then you probably have a corroded terminal or a pinched or broken wire somewhere. That's the kind of stuff you kill yourself looking for, and then once you find it, all is good.

 

Hi Tony
I was able to jump over my solenoid but when i tested the two terminals that activate the heavy contact i got a negative response. I repaired my solenoid and now it works fine but if OP is still looking for solutions thats another spot to check.

 

Matt said he jumped the solenoid, and the starter worked. The question is, HOW did he jump it? From the positive terminal to the small terminal, or across the two big terminals?
If jumped to the small terminal, and the solenoid worked, it's not the solenoid.

Matt,
See the above question. How did you jump the solenoid?
If the solenoid is okay, it might be your neutral safety switch. The one that only lets you start in neutral. I would definitely check those wires and that switch early in the process of elimination. If it starts and runs when jumped or pulled, it's not the kill switch.