ATV electric start problem

[blakjack23]

Hi everyone. I have a 1989 Big Bear 350 and my electric start had been working fine until a month ago when I brought my wheeler to a car wash and sprayed it down. Now all it does is click a bunch of times. It sounds like the clicking is coming from the starter relay assembly by the battery. Is this what I would need to replace to get this working again or is there something else I should look for???

Thanks, Alex

[huntingislife]

First off, is the battery good? If it is, it sounds like the relay is the problem. You could just bypass the relay and see if it starts, then you know its the relay. If it still doesnt work its probably your brushes.

[Eric Wettschreck]

My 2000 big bear 400 did the same thing. I checked the relay and battery and all were good. I jumped the relay and still nothing.

I took the starter off and the brushes were pretty much junk. I replaced them and all is good.

My problem didn't start when anything was wet. However, if the wheeler was hot the problem was there.

[blakjack23]

By "jumping or bypassing" the relay do you mean touching the two connectors on the relay together with a screwdriver?

[Eric Wettschreck]

That's it. Jump the relay and see what happens. If nothing happens your problem is in the starter.

[blakjack23]

Thanks Guys! It turns out a new battery did the trick. I had assumed since it was clicking and that the headlights worked that the battery had enough juice to start it....I was wrong.