I am working on a buddies of mine MD35 hypersport. Having an issue with the switch or starter. If it sits any period of time more than a day between starts when you go to fire it you turn the switch and nothing. You have to bump the switch a couple times to get the starter to engage. Ive tested the voltage to the starter and have a solid 13.3 VOLTS during the first key turn but the starter is not engaging. Ive tested the batteries and even swapped them just to make sure.

This sounds to me like a starter starting to go bad, but I want to make sure before I go throw a $180 starter on the thing. What are the signs that a starter is going on these? When I first turn the key there isn't even a click like a normal starter going out. I assume since I have voltage at the starter I can rule out the switch and solenoid.

Try to start it in the dark look for fire.

When you say nothing, is there no click from the starter solenoid?

check connections (all) at starter and switch, be sure they are clean and tight and your ground is good

If the solenoid isn't clicking, that'd be the first thing I'd check.

Where are you checking the voltage at? The 13VDC you said.

Try this, connect the black lead of your meter to the engine block (Not the negative post on the battery!!), connect the red lead of your meter to the small flat spade terminal on the starter WITH the yellow wire still connected on the terminal and tell us what is the voltage.

By testing the yellow wire OFF the starter terminal, you may have 13VDC. But the load is not on the circuit.

The reason for connecting the black meter lead to the engine block, is to make sure the engine block has a GOOD ground/connection from the battery negative wire. Never forget about the ground. Make sure where the main battery negative cable mounts on the engine that there is NO paint or corrosion between the terminal and the engine block.

I hope this wasn't to much information for him!!

STT I'm gonna PM cb and tell him you contributed some useful info..lmao

finally got another chance to look into this. traced every damn wire I could think of, did find one connection that needed replaced (ring terminal with a few broken strands on the trim switch relay) other than that nothing. Was still testing over 12 volts at the yellow wire. I noticed when I plugged in my on board charger one bank was always full the other bank had a blinking red light. so I rechecked my battery, battery tested good. so I took the battery into town and had a local place check the battery. ILL BE DAMNED IF MY TESTER WASNT BAD! one bad bank and only had 44 CCA. New battery in and she started without missing a beat. All that tracing for the most common problem of all. time to buy a reliable tester mine was an old one I inherited.