Anyone have any ideas? I got on my 2000 Sportsman 500 yesterday and the dang thing wouldn't crank. It will pull start though but didn't want to take any chances.

Today, I pulled it apart, had the battery tested (OK), bypassed the start solenoid and it cranked up. When I tried to shut off with the kill switch though, nohing happened. Bought it used in March and have always killed with the key, never the shutoff switch. When I turn the key on, the lights will burn but when I hit the start button, the lights go out and nothing happens. It almost feels like the start switch is shorting out.

Anyhow, before I spend $100 on a switch, does anyone have any recommendations for troubleshooting?

Thanks for your time.

 

welcome to the forum. did it always start w/ out isues before? all you have to do to by pas the solenoid to test it is w/ the key on jump the 2 big cables and the starter should turn over. if it does then the trouble lies in the solenoid. you should have power going to the small wire to the solenoid when the button is pushed in to start. depending on how you by passed it may be part of the issue w/ everything else you described.

 

Thanks for the welcome and input. I pulled the kill/start/override switch and cleaned it up, but it still doesn't start with the switch. It will shut off with the kill switch now though. I have to hand crank it. I jumped the solenoid with a jumper wire and it starts. The problem I'm seeing is it's not getting power at the start side of the solenoid, telling me that some where between the soleoid and the start switch, it's losing the current. Either a switch or a circuit breaker or fuse. They show them in the wiring scematic, but I don't know where they are located. Do you? I've hunted but no luck. Also, I have a 2nd solenoid for an after market winch. Winch doesn't work either.

 

You have a 20 amp main circuit breaker in a sealed pouch forward of the solenoid and a 15 amp one for the fan under the front panel. If the rear one was bad you would have no power to the front,lights,etc. You can slit the pouch and see if it is corroded and need replacement,but think you need to pull the pod upper half and check the switch harness for any wiring shorts,kinks going into the main harness since you say there is no power going to the solenoid,plus you can ohm out the switch wires to see if you just need a new one. I wouldn't rule out a short from the left control switch either! Just trace this wiring into the pod area also! Lot of twisting and turning in this area and I have have found shorts in this area often. OPT

 

Thanks OPT. I think you're probably right with the short suggestion. Ill try that to day maybe. Not to try to sound to ignorant but this is my first time working on a bike. Can't be too different from a car but what do you mean by POD?

 

it's where your top headlight and key switch is located. alot the wires are under the pod.