Can't start 82 GS650GL

[jro]

Hi,

The bike was running the other week and the starter broke. I took it apart and fixed it and put it back and fired right up. A few days later when I went to ride it suddenly wouldn't turn over. Didn't make a sound when I pressed the starter button. When I turn the key, all of the electric turns on, but when I hit the starter nothing happens.

Today, my brother put a screw driver on the solenoid relay and it tried to turn over, but never made it all the way. It tries to turn over even when the key isn't in the ignition.

I just bought a new solenoid relay today and hope this fixes it, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if there are any other ideas out there?

I'm new to bikes and I'm not the handiest of men, but I'm trying to get my hands dirty and learn.

Thanks for reading

[Nessism]

Sounds like the battery may be discharged.

This website is chocked full of good info for new owners...http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

Also check the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature. It will help guide you on things to look out for.

Key thing is to proactively perform maintenance so you can avoid failures.

[tom203]

The starter broke stuff - what broke? The starter motor itself? If so, how did you fix it?
How long have you had this bike - did you buy it running?

[jro]

Thanks for the resource nessism.

Tom - I've had the bike for about one month and it was running fine when I bought it. It was the starter button and not the starter motor that broke. The starter button fell off. I JB welded the button back together and then reassembled the starter - it wasn't the motor because it fired right up after I put the starter switch back together.

A brand new battery was installed the day before I bought it. It was running for two weeks or so and then 2 or 3 days after the last time I took it out it wouldn't start. I'm looking for advice as to what parts to check next to see if they need to be replaced. If the starter solenoid relay doesn't fix the problem, do you have any advice or recommendations for what to check next?

Thanks

[tom203]

Got a multimeter ? Probably your starter button repair ain't right or you interfered with "run/off" (aka kill switch) wiring. When you press starter button, 12 volt positive power feeds thru kill switch and energizes the little trigger wire on solenoid- this makes starter motor crank.
Go to Basscliffs for wiring diagram - print it out big and study.
Like this one ,click thru to view

https://sites.google.com/a/dslextreme.com/cbsaunders/images/1981GS650GLX.Jpg?attredirects=0