Yes, there is always a battery charging system on quads. Whether the charging system is working or not is another set of tests. Get the quad running first. Your charging system doesn't have to work to start up and run the engine. The charging system is for later.

As far as wall charging "required once in a while", this is true if you let your quad sit for long periods. The battery can self discharge, and when the battery sits discharged it sulphates up (really bad), plus a discharged battery can freeze in cold weather (also really bad). The same is true for your car as well. If you let it sit for a long time you have to periodically charge the battery. If you drive your quad (or car) regularly you shouldn't need to top off the battery with a charger.

You must not leave the ring terminals shorted together after the quad starts. Once the quad starts you disconnect the terminals to stop the starter from turning. Also remember this: When you short those ring terminals together the starter will turn unconditonally. If the quad starts, and you're in gear, it will take off. Safety interlocks are there for a reason, and when doing this shorting bit you are bypassing all of them.

The solenoid's sole purpose is to turn the starter motor only long enough to start up the quad. It has nothing to do with charging the battery back up. The battery is charged from a low voltage high current winding on the stator (one of three windings - the other two are high voltage ignition power and ignition trigger). The battery charge winding is AC, and is rectified in to DC and regulated by the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator feeds the battery and keeps it charged. On your quad I'm betting it has 4 pins and has an aluminum case with heat sink fins on it.

Yes, it charges via the small red battery wire that also goes through a fuse. Starters typically drain the battery with massive current for a very short time. The battery charging system relies on charging the battery back up with a much lower current over a comparitively much longer time.

 

The red cat 70cc and 90cc atvs DID NOT have an ignition switch,they only have the on/off switch switch on the left switch handle, We had sold these units,and my daughter still has one(very good machines-much better than most smaller Chinese atvs out there) They were made by HSUN,who manufactured alot of the plastics/seats for Yamaha(so I was told) There is a brake saftey switch,so you must hold the brake pedal to start.Also,they have 4 gears-No reverse.I am pretty familiar with these machines,so if you have any questions please ask.Hope this helps...

 

Awesome, Jimi! Thanks for the input.

 

Lynn and jimi thanks for the replies! sorry for the delayd response my computer was DEAD haha.

okay so i got it turning over, as jimi said there was no ignition switch... awsome. so it turns over and all but is still having trouble starting, I'm going to make a new thread for this as this original issue was solved thanks to everyones help!

I will update with a link to the new thread

 

Can you please email me at mizzie213@yahoo.com I have a couple questions on these redcats, it says you haven't been on since 2-28 so please email when you get a chance. Thanks. Mike