Starter problem

[Leadhead]

Good morning,

I have a '81 GS1100 with an attitude. My old battery wouldnt hold a charge so I replaced it. Now she will not start. There is anger. Clutch, kill switch, and conectors appear good. When I hit the starter button, I can hear a click from the starter cellinoid (sp?) but the starter will not turn over. I have an idea where to start looking, but I was hopeing that there may be a quick answer and fix. A point in the best direction would be much appreciated. Winters finally over and I'm itching to get out.

 

[Baatfam]

Just to check...did you charge the new battery? Even though they often say they are charged, sometimes they aren't...

 

[Leadhead]

Yup,

Definitaly charged. Lots of power to the lights.

 

[KRyder13]

I'll be interested in seeing how this turns out - my GS1100 does that frequently - I hit the starter button and hear the click. I've about given up fixing it - everything checks out as good - and it does it regardless of whether or not the battery is fully charged.
Ken

 

[tkent02]

Bad connections to the starter? Bad brushes?

 

[Baatfam]

Bad ground? Battery/motor, battery/frame?

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

Good battery connections? battery charged? Take an old screwdriver and short the two connections on the solenoid to see if the starter is working if it still won't turn take the starter out - probably needs new brushes

 

[thombre]

Leadhead, The solenoid must be effectively grounded to allow current to flow to starter motor.GS models depend on ground through battery frame.
Possible solution,take a piece of #14 insulated wire and crimpon two 1/4" ring terminal lugs.Remove solenoid mounting bolt use piece of sand paper to clean surface area,attach lug to bolt and reinstall.The other end of wire goes to negative terminal at battery.

 

[Guest]

Jump the solenoid and see if the starter turns.

 

[Leadhead]

SO....jumped the selinoid. Starter didnt turn, so that's that. Now I have to deal with the fact that when I jumped it somehow I got a wiring fire!!! Well, I guess riding season has just started.

 

[rapidray]

I have starters if you need one. Ray.

 

[Leadhead]

Thanks for the offer Ray, but I have a parts bike.

 

[Guest]

The fire shouldn't have happened. What wire/s went up?

 

[Leadhead]

ground cables attached to the selinoid mount and ground to the frame.

 

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Greetings and Salutations!!

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Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Guest]

You have a bad ground.

 

[Leadhead]

HA ha ha, Ya they were on FIRE!! but I agree, Im going to start by fixing the grounds and ensuring that everything is grounded properly. Hopefully that will fix my starter.

 

[KRyder13]

I'll be interested in seeing how this turns out - my GS1100 does that frequently - I hit the starter button and hear the click. I've about given up fixing it - everything checks out as good - and it does it regardless of whether or not the battery is fully charged.
Ken

I wanted to give an update on the problems I was experiencing so I quoted myself. A little over two weeks ago I took the right handlebar switch (where the starter button and kill switch are) apart. I found cobwebs and dirt (not dust, real dirt) inside. No idea how that stuff got in there. I cleaned it all out and brightened up the contacts for the starter button, then reassembled it. Have not had a failure since.
Ken

 

[Mekanix]

startor circuit is pretty simple.

Power goes from the ignition switch to the RUN switch to the Start button. This is all positive wiring.

There is one wire that goes to the solenoid ( yellow)


This is what supplies + power to the solenoid's coild.

IT is grounded through its casing and therefore grounded through the plate it is sitting on which is grounded through the ground wires going to your wiring harness and then battery.

that fire should not have happened period.


So if you where pressing the starter button and you herd clicks then it could be the solonoid or the starter .

Not the start button.

To jump this and get the starter to turn you use a screw driver and connect one of the big posts on the solonoid to the other big post on it.

You should get some sparks and it should turn over.

If not than it could be your starter .

If it does crank than its the solonoid that is burn inside and has to be replaced

If you hear I click that always means that your solonoid is getting power and ground.

the only two possibilities are either the starter is shot or the solonoid has worn out internaly.

Either that or wiring.

Hope this helps