Starter Troubleshooting - 79 GS1000

[ThePaulDuane]

I put the key in, turn on ignition, lights all come on. Horn will meekly beep a time or two, but then acts like the batter has died, though it's a new battery with a good charge.
The engine won't even begin to turn over. No sounds from the starter motor either. All fuses are good.
What troubleshooting steps would you recommend?
Thanks!
- Paul

 

[tom203]

"No sounds from the starter motor"

Does starter solenoid click on?? If no, Try "jumping" the big terminals on solenoid to bypass everything.

 

[Steve]

Did you pull the clutch lever before pushing the starter button? :-k

There is a "safety" interlock.

.

 

[steve murdoch]

Are you sure the battery is good?
Done some readings?

 

[ThePaulDuane]

Yes, I am pulling the clutch lever in.

 

[Guest]

I recently had a similar issue on my '79 1000 and figured out that one of the soldered wires going to the back of the fuse box had come loose. This caused very little power to be pushed though the whole electrical system and even shut the bike off a couple times while riding and fried my stator.

I'd connect a multimeter to the battery when you try and start it and see what your readings are. I think if it drops below 10 volts the battery is either bad or too small for the bike. Not 100% on that number. Maybe someone else can verify. I'd check your voltage readings throughout the starting system too and make sure you're getting power where it's needed. Also, a dirty kill switch or starter button can cause problems.

When did the problem start? Have you been riding it and all the sudden this started happening or has the bike been sitting for some time?