not starting... where to start looking

[apcsox]

thank god, I feel like a dumbass for not getting it sooner.... *facepalm*
thank you for you assistance... I will be trying this next time I get around the bike and give you guys the verdict

 

[Guest]

If that's not it check the kill switch and spin the fuses (glass).

 

[apcsox]

I swapped out the fuses for good measure at first..... is there any particular procedure to testing the kill-switch?

 

[Guest]

I swapped out the fuses for good measure at first..... is there any particular procedure to testing the kill-switch?

All the power goes to your ignition from the Kill switch. If the contacts are dirty you won't get a good voltage there.

 

[Andr?]

I pulled the clutch lever and pressed the starter button.... nothing... QUOTE]

If ''nothing...'' = starter do not engaged and motor did not even turn, and batery is good, it's the clutch switch who's faulty.Jumping it should do the trick. If killing switch is down the starter will launch the engine but it will not fired up. Killing switch just cut power to ignition coil.

 

[Tom MLC]

I pulled the clutch lever and pressed the starter button.... nothing... QUOTE]

If ''nothing...'' = starter do not engaged and motor did not even turn, and batery is good, it's the clutch switch who's faulty.Jumping it should do the trick. If killing switch is down the starter will launch the engine but it will not fired up. Killing switch just cut power to ignition coil.

Not true junior. If the kill switch is open, the bike will not even crank. At least on my bike anyway.

 

[blowerbike]

Not true junior. If the kill switch is open, the bike will not even crank. At least on my bike anyway.

you are correct... at least for the GS bikes in the states.
now Honda's....
they will crank with the switch off but no sparkles...

 

[Billy Ricks]

Could also be dirty contacts on the starter switch itself. You can spray the right hand switchgear with some electrical contact cleaner. On the clutch switch I would get into the headlight bucket and connect the male and female ends from the main harness rather than cutting the wires at the perch. This way it will be easily reversible.

 

[terrylee]

My 450 was doing the same thing and it turned out to be a dirty, corrodded stater button. Take your switch apart and cleaned the inside of the button, spring and contacts. Be careful though small parts! And lots of fun putting back together. But made mine work. terrylee.

 

[apcsox]

yeah, problem with the clutch switch... when I went to troubleshoot it the other day, it started like nothing was ever wrong.... my clutch handle is loose, so apparently at certain angles it didn't make the proper connection.... jsut need to tighten it up now

 

[Steve]

now Honda's....
they will crank with the switch off but no sparkles...

... up to about '94. Starting with most of the '95 models, the kill switch is wired like the GS's.

Kill switch not set to RUN, no sparkles AND no crankie.

(we do this all the time, walking down a row of Wings at any major rally )

.

 

[duaneage]

wait a minute.....

wait a minute.....

1.Go to the battery.

2. Find the really big red wire and follow to the starter solenoid, it has another big wire going to the starter,

3. FInd the Yellow wire with green stripe and remove it from the female connector.

4. Touch the male bullet end to the + terminal of the battery. Make sure it is in neutral when you do this.

If the bike cranks go through all that kill switch and clutch lever stuff. if not, make sure the solenoid is grounded through the little black wire under one of the bolts.

No little black wire? Run one to the frame and then try it.

When bikes sit around a questionable ground on the solenoid gets worse and then they don't crank. Checking the solenoid is the FIRST thing to do when a bike won't crank, a lot easier than opening up headlights, hand controls, pulling fuses and defeating the clutch interlocks. Granted a lot can go wrong with this circuit but the first place to start (pardon the pun) is with the solenoid in the first place.