Starting Issue

[Bondiblue]

Hello,

I have a 1979 GS1000L that has been in pieces for years and I'm attempting to get it running again. The electrics had been completely disassembled and I'm hoping I was able to get them back together correctly, but I'm not sure if I did. I took several pictures from different angles hoping someone who knows these bikes inside out might be able to point out if anything obvious looks wrong.

The bike will crank (weakly) if I jump the solenoid with a screwdriver. I get nothing when trying to use the start button. No crank/click/nothing. I've disassembled the switch and cleaned thoroughly with electrical contact cleaner. I've charged the battery and also had a charger in "start" mode connected when trying to crank. I'm not sure if a wiring issue, bad solenoid, bad starter switch or something else I'm missing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'll post the pics I have below and if any other angles or pics would help, I'll gladly take them.

https://imgur.com/a/rhmQuwD

[LAB3]

The starter switch is important and there's another switch on the clutch to make sure it's not engaged when you hit the start button, clean that switch up too.The next common thing to look at is the ground on the starter solenoid. The solenoid itself isn't grounded but the plate it's mounted on is. There should be a wire with a ring on it that bolts onto that plate and goes up into the wiring harness, make sure it's clean and not on one of the bolts holding the airbox. On my 450 it goes on the top screw holding the regulator on and screws directly into the frame.

[Bondiblue]

it goes on the top screw holding the regulator .

This was exactly it. Thanks a ton! I just had it grounded by itself to the frame...didn't know it needed to be grounded to the plate everything it attached to.

With that small change, I tossed some fuel at it and it started after a few seconds of cranking. Ran terrible (it's been years) but it was nice to hear it run regardless!

[Steve]

Now, to take it the rest of the way, clean the carbs PROPERLY and adjust the valves.

.

[LAB3]

Now, to take it the rest of the way, clean the carbs PROPERLY and adjust the valves.

.

^^^^^ What he said!