• 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.

GS1100g 82 starting issues

  • Thread starter Thread starter jake12
  • Start date Start date
J

jake12

Guest
Hello all,
So here's my story. I purchased this beauty of a bike off of eBay a few months ago. It was super cheap, and as I was wanting to get in to motorcycle restoration as a hobby, it fit perfectly what I wanted.

The bike has been sitting for about 6 years. Tank has rust and pin holes, seat is dry rotted. But the engine of the bike seems so good. After a full Carb rebuild (they were so nasty!) I got a new battery and tried to crank her. Nothing. No click. Just silence. I had the clutch engaged in neutral, the kill switch on "run", everything hooked up (after replacing the main fuse I now have working headlights, gauges, etc.) And pushed the ignition button. Nothing.

After shorting out the starter relay and successfully getting the starter motor to run like a dream, I assumed the relay was bad and replaced it. Now I have no clue where to go next.
Bad start button? Bad wiring somewhere? Can a poor ground lead to this?

I'm relatively new to motorcycles, so I feel as though I may be missing some simple little fix. Looking for some suggestions!

Any ideas as to where I should start? I'd obviously love to NOT have to re-wire anything...

Thanks in advance!
Jake
 
First, WELCOME.

Next, pull the clutch, then push the starter button.
(Had you known that, you could have saved the needless purchase of a new solenoid.)

Finally, click HERE for BassCliff's Mega-Welcome.

.
 
Steve said:
First, WELCOME.

Next, pull the clutch, then push the starter button.
(Had you known that, you could have saved the needless purchase of a new solenoid.)

Finally, click HERE for BassCliff's Mega-Welcome.

.
Click to expand...
Yup
These bikes came with a safety switch in the clutch lever.
 
Steve said:
First, WELCOME.

Next, pull the clutch, then push the starter button.
(Had you known that, you could have saved the needless purchase of a new solenoid.)

Finally, click HERE for BassCliff's Mega-Welcome.

.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply! Unfortunately, i most definitely pulled the clutch first; my apologies if it appeared like i did not. Anything else you can think of?
 
Is the kill switch on run?
These switches do suck so I'd try and bypass the safety switch. Follow the wires into the headlight bucket and unplug it and plug the two wires in the harness into each other.
 
Greetings and Salutations!!

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. jake12,

Test the start button itself. Disconnect it from the circuit. Make sure your meter says zero ohms when you press the start button and "OL" (or no connection) when the button is not pressed. It could be merely dirty contacts inside the button itself. Did you use a screwdriver and short the terminals of the starter solenoid to get it to crank? Look in the electrical section of my little website for more troubleshooting tips.

Let me drop this off ... >>> New Members, CLICK HERE!!

Don't forget to do the rest of the necessary maintenance. You'll find a couple of lists in the "mega-welcome". You have a 30 year old motorcycle that probably needs 20 years worth of maintenance. Skipping steps and taking shortcuts are deadly to vintage motorcycles and other living things.

Welcome to the forum. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=196338
 
BassCliff said:
Hi Mr. jake12,

Test the start button itself. Disconnect it from the circuit. Make sure your meter says zero ohms when you press the start button and "OL" (or no connection) when the button is not pressed. It could be merely dirty contacts inside the button itself. Did you use a screwdriver and short the terminals of the starter solenoid to get it to crank? Look in the electrical section of my little website for more troubleshooting tips.

Let me drop this off ... >>> New Members, CLICK HERE!!

Don't forget to do the rest of the necessary maintenance. You'll find a couple of lists in the "mega-welcome". You have a 30 year old motorcycle that probably needs 20 years worth of maintenance. Skipping steps and taking shortcuts are deadly to vintage motorcycles and other living things.

Welcome to the forum. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=196338
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. I did short out the solenoid and it turned the starter motor just fine. I'll try cleaning the contact points and see if that helps. And yes, I've done all the necessary maintenance thus far. All my fluids are fresh, filters changed, new plugs, Carb rebuild,... The works :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top