• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Engine not starting: bad starter?

  • Thread starter Thread starter paintmann111
  • Start date Start date
P

paintmann111

Guest
Yesterday I went to take the bike out for a spin but could not get it to start. The bike is an '82 gs 650G. In the past I have jumped it with cables (car off) and it would start right up, but this time nothing, not even a click when i hit the button. I tried jumping it just in case the battery was dead (last ride about a month ago), but still nothing. All the fuses in the box under the seat are ok. It does start and run if I bump start it by getting a running start. I figured it has to be either the button or a bad starter. Any way to test the starter? Any advice on where to start first?

Thanks,

Chris
 
Welcome to the site. The first thing in any charging system is to check the battery. What voltage is your battery when the key is off and on? Have you looked over all of your connections to make sure nothing is cut? When you say you checked your fuses, did you just look at them or test them with a power light? You need over 12v to start and your fuses can break under the metal caps where you cannot see them.

Basscliff will be along later with the official welcome that will include links to several pages of information - read and heed. Learn how to use the search feature here as this question is EXTREMELY common. Click on Search, Advanced Search, enter "not starting" and click titles only.

Throw your bike info in your signature.
 
Greetings and Salutations!!

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. paintman111,

If you short the solenoid with a screwdriver, will the starter turn the engine over? It could be a bad battery. It could be a dirty start button switch. It could be a faulty, rusted, intermittent connection anywhere. When was the last time you went through the entire wiring harness to clean the connections and grounds, checking for melted connectors and worn insulation?

Anyway, let me dump a TON of information on you and share some GS lovin'. :D

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.
big_hi.gif


If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....
hat1.gif


Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Cleanup Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these tasks must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. This is what NOT to do: Top 10 Newbie Mistakes. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

carpet.jpg


Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike! :D

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed. I will put you on my prayer list.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Since you say it bump starts, it's likely battery, solenoid,or starter problem. Battery is the most likely culprit. You've been on here a while, so you must have noticed all the attention to charging systems.You don't seem to ride this bike much, is it new to you or a second bike? The starter motor on this bike is a pain to remove, so let's hope it's something else. Does this bike still have clutch safety switch?
 
tom203 said:
Since you say it bump starts, it's likely battery, solenoid,or starter problem. Battery is the most likely culprit. You've been on here a while, so you must have noticed all the attention to charging systems.You don't seem to ride this bike much, is it new to you or a second bike? The starter motor on this bike is a pain to remove, so let's hope it's something else. Does this bike still have clutch safety switch?
Click to expand...
This is a good question!
 
Fixed the problem, followed the wire diagram and found a loose connection. Battery was fine. Even if its a dead battery it should still start with jumper cables, or at the least make a clicking noise. I've been on and off here since '07, but didn't go on for about a year. When I came back my username was gone and there was nothing on the forums. I'm guessing the site got hit or something? I signed up again with the same username. I do ride alot, I've put about 20k on the gs in the 5 years i've owned it as well as rebuild the engine. This past summer though, with a new job and moving, time as been scarce so it has been sitting. Thanks everyone for the help, and I'll try to stick around more this time.:D

To answer the above question this is the first bike I ever bought, but I have owned three so far. One other gs650 and a gsx600, both which I sold.
 
Last edited:
Paintmann Chris,

Welcome back to GSR.

If you dont sign in for a period of time (3 months?) your username expires.
(I know, that is different than most forums. Has been discussed at length many times before. THat is what Administrator Frank wants to do, and he does all this on his own, so okay. Is one of ther few remaining mo'cycle forumns that is not taken over by sponsers and advertizments.)

Where was the disconnected wire? What was it? How you find it?


I, too, had a 82 650G.
Got it new and Had it for 20+ years.

Dave

.
 
Last edited:
Sorry for the late reply. It was the wire for the starter up by the fuse box. It uses bullet connectors and I guess one of them got pinched and disconnected when I put the seat back on...at least I think that's what happened. I ended up throwing some electrical tape around it to stop it from coming loose again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top