Solenoid/starter problem?

[9192champs]

Yesterday, my '86 FXR started up fine and I went out riding. After about 30 mintues of riding, I stopped to get a drink. When I went to start the bike back up a few minutes later, it turned over once and then made a loud metallic click and stuck. It fired up the second time I tried, but it still seemed to hesitate a bit and click after the first turn over. I rode a little bit longer and then stoped and restarted a few more times, and the same thing kept happening... it seemed to hesitate and click after the first turn of the engine (although it then started).

I then parked the bike and tried it again a few hours later, and everything seemed to be fine... it fired right up as usual with no hesitation or click. The battery is fine and the bike is running fine, so I am thinking that my solenoid or starter motor is starting to go bad. I am going to do the tests listed in the repair manual, but I wondered if this behavior sounded familiar to anyone. If so, let me know!

Thanks,
Paul

[9192champs]

Update: I rode the bike again tonight and could not duplicate the problem. I suspect it has something to do with heat, since it was significantly cooler tonight and I was not in nearly as much traffic.

[econnor]

9192 -the starting systems in that era of bikes was marginal at best. It sounds like the voltage getting to the starter is right on the line of being enough to get things going. That is why it will do it and sometimes it won't. If you have not already, do a voltage drop test from the battery to every connection in the chain al the way to the starter. Do the same thing on the ground side. I would bet your bike has a voltage drop of at least three or more volts between the battery and the 12 volt input on the starter.