Hey, my raptor started having electrical problems the last few rides and i found that if I took the seat off and played with the batery connections and some other wires in that area (just jiggled them a bit) it would be fine and start rightup again. I went to ride last week and all I get when I press the start button is this electrical buzz, sort of like an old fasion doorbell sound (zzzzt zzzzt zzzzzzzzzt) each time I press start. I found that the buz is coming from the starter assembly, not only can I hear it but i can feel it, the peice with 2 (20) fuses side by side right behind the batery on the right that the +red from the battery goes directly to and a negative from somewhere else also connects. So i replaced it with a bran new one and wouldn't ya know, the same problem still....any idea suggestions? thanks - chris

 

It's a simple fix, its just dirty/corroded battery terminals. Take the cables off the battery and clean the posts and the cable connectors with some sandpaper so they're nice and shiny. Then put it back together and give er a try. Just don't tighten the terminals down too much, I made that mistake and ruined a $70 battery that was a month old.

I had this happen all the time, and I discovered that if I put a dab of grease on the battery posts before I bolt them down that it won't get all corroded again.

 

i hope so man...i did clean the batery terminals with deoxidizing solution and a light wire bursh, as well as the same for the cables that connect, what where the problems with over tightening the screws on the batery...i might of done that....but not sure....i will try to clean them again, perhaps more thoroughly and apply some conducting solution i use to wire electrical pannels with for houses...its a goop you put in the breakers that helps condutivity and keeps corrosion to a minimum....its sorta like grease....thanks for the reply any other suggestions if this doesn't work. - chris -

 

If you over-tightened the terminals you probably would know it right away. They are thin lead terminals, and it doesn't take much force to crack them and twist them off.

If the battery terminals aren't the problem, check the other connections for the battery and starter cables, like the connections on the solenoid, the ground connection on the end of the negative side battery cable, and both ends of the starter cable. I'm confident that your problem lies somewhere in those cables, because it happens to me all the time, and it's always a corroded connection. It could also be a connector on one of the leads that's frayed out or broke off, and making intermittent contact, but if that's the case you'll see it when you're cleaning the connections off.