I have a Polaris scrambler 400 ( 1999) The battery is new and fully charged, the lights work when the bike is not running. I push up on the electric start switch and all I get is is single click noise. When I let off the switch I get another click noise. I don't have an issue pull starting but my rope is going to wear out soon. What do I need to check or what could be the problem. Just looking for somewhere to start. I guess I should get a shop manual to start.

 

you may have a bad solenoid, or just dirty connections. try disconnecting the leads to the solenoid and cleaning them with sandpaper then put it back together and try. not sure where the solenoid is on a scrammy but on my sportsman it's above the left rear tire, by the battery. good luck.

 

I cleaned all the connections and still no good. The positive cable connects to a small square box beside the battery compartment. Is this the solenoid or is it just a power point. I do believe this is where the click comes from when trying to use the electric start. I am sure someone in the polaris world has run into the same problem before. Thanks for the help yoopermike.

 

sound like the starter, could just need brushes or rebuild. at worst replaced. check voltage on wire hooked to it, if 12v then take it off and tear it apart.

 

sounds like a bad starter bendix. you should remove the starter and bench test it to verify. if you remove it hook up a batter charger to the starter leads. if the click you hear is the starters gear moving forward then your starter is bad or seized up cause all the starter solenoid does is move the starter gear back and forth to mesh with another gear. if you could hear the starter spin but the starter gear not click forward then the solenoid would be junk. you could be safe and replace both while you've got it out and then you wouldn't have to worry about it any longer cause it would be about my luck that I would change the starter then the solenoid would go bad ya know.

 

by the way the small box could be a starter relay or starter switch, the one on my harley doesn't look like the one on a car so it may just be a different style/look.

 

Thanks for the replies. The starter does not sound like it is spinning or trying to engauge. The thing that the positive cable hooks to coming from the battery is where the click noise comes from. Sounds like I need to start tearing things apart. Might as well get a shop manual while I am at it. Thanks again for the replies.

 

the starter on the polaris engages the bendix by way of a one way bearing inside the bendix. if the starter doesnt turn neither does the bendix. the solenoid is located beside the battery, on the side of the box.

 

oh yea 1 more thing. if you dont get voltage thru the solenoid, even when it clicks. it may be repaired. unsolder the little connection on top, take out the screws and disassemble it. clean the contacts and reassemble, resolder and recheck. simple and save you a few $$

 

You could try a jumper wire on the silinoid, but its probably the starter.
BBScarmbler said they sell a lawn tractor silinoid at True value that will work for $14.