No power to starter switch

[AxleDostalek]

Hello all! I have cleaned up my 1980 gs850 pretty good and now I threw a battery in. I am getting power to my starter, the solenoid and the coils but when I press the start button the solenoid won't make a noise and the starter won't spin. I am not sure where to start. I have tested all the points for the battery to the starter and have 12 plus volts everywhere. My headlight turns on but does not dim when I hit the starter. Any help would be great! Thank you.

 

[Guest]

When you hit the button are you getting power both sides of the solenoid ? I expect not, if the lights don't dim at all. They can be de soldered taken apart cleaned re soldered and re built with the copper terminals under the bolts reversed, up side down, but wait until you get confirmation.

 

[Steve]

Make sure the starter solenoid has a good ground. The plate to which it is mounted is usually attached to the battery box, which is isloated in rubber mounts. There needs to be a ground wire from the starter solenoid (or someplace on that mounting plate) to a chassis ground or the battery.

.

 

[cornishgs]

if solenoid not clicking check power at starter switch bad switch maybe .little wire on solonid is it 12v when pushing starter. if it is it is your solenoid switch

 

[jsandidge]

Also check the clutch safety switch. You are pulling the clutch in when trying to start, right?

 

[Grimly]

Also check the clutch safety switch. You are pulling the clutch in when trying to start, right?

An '80 doesn't have any of that - one less thing to worry about and go wrong.

 

[thebusdweller]

My 79 has the clutch safety switch, just saying.

 

[Grimly]

My 79 has the clutch safety switch, just saying.

Odd. Mine doesn't.
Must be the ones sold outside of the US didn't have it for those years. The European market at that time was less litigious, but it appeared on later bikes.
There are plenty of imported bikes have this geewhackery nonsense on them and most later bikes have it as standard. Lots of owners disable the
circuitry of the clutch and sidestand interlocks, as being more trouble than they're worth.

 

[2BRacing]

Hello all! I have cleaned up my 1980 gs850 pretty good and now I threw a battery in. I am getting power to my starter, the solenoid and the coils but when I press the start button the solenoid won't make a noise and the starter won't spin. I am not sure where to start. I have tested all the points for the battery to the starter and have 12 plus volts everywhere. My headlight turns on but does not dim when I hit the starter. Any help would be great! Thank you.

Make sure the "Run/Off" switch on the right hand handlebar switch is turned to "RUN". Move the switch on and off a few times, maybe the contacts are a bit dirty.

 

[Steve]

An '80 doesn't have any of that - one less thing to worry about and go wrong.

Both of the '80s here (used to) have the "safety" switch on the clutch. :-\\\

.

 

[Grimly]

Both of the '80s here (used to) have the "safety" switch on the clutch. :-\\\

.

Well, there y'go. Damned lawyers and litigants.

 

[Guest]

My '80 still has the clutch switch and it still works!

As already said I would go for the clutch switch and the kill switch. Eliminate the clutch switch by joining the connectors together (found inside the headlight) and if that doesn't help, press the starter button while toggling the kill switch. See if you get any action that way.

The kill switch and the starter button are on the same fuse so check that and the contacts.

 

[AxleDostalek]

Thank you all! It works perfectly with the clutch pulled in. I am new at this bike rebuilding. With my other bike I don't need too. I will be starting her up tomorrow with some new gas. I would be lost if you all didn't give your advice.