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Welcome to my Click.

  • Thread starter Thread starter 0mental0
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0mental0

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I have read some posts about this and they all say I should be able to cross the two posts on the solenoid and the starter should turn over. I tried it, and I get nothing but the solenoid click. I am scared to death of wiring, can you throw some suggestions my way in the most redneck terms possible?
 
The first thing to realise about wiring in general is that if contacts and connectors are dirty or corroded electricity flow can be stopped or severly reduced. The second thing to know is that if grounds are not clean and tight electricity will again not flow.

With these old bikes corrosion is very common so you should start by cleaning all contacts and connectors from the battery terminals, through the fuse block and down "stream to the solenoid and starter motor.Don't forget the grounds. The switch on the right handlebar is also part of the starter circuit and you should carefully take it apart and clean the "fragile" contacts inside as well. Be carefull with these as there are some small parts that can get away from you.

If you still don't have a starter motor you can try to jump the solenoid as you mentioned. If this fires the starter then its possible the solenoid is toast or something up stream (i.e. starter button) is faulty.

Unfortunately it is also possible that the starter motor itself is worn out. If you run a heavier guage wire from the connector on the starter and touch it to the positive post on the battery and it still doesnt turn then it likely needs some repairs (likely just new brushes).

There is a very good book on motorcycle electrics and troubleshooting by a chap named Tracy Martin. If you Google his name you will likely be able to source it. It will help you understand how it all works and help you figure out what's going on with your bike.

Good luck with it.

Cheers,
Spyug

PS Here is that book http://www.webbikeworld.com/books/motorcycle-electrical-systems.htm
 
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Is your battery fully charged?

That's where you start for electrical

You need a properly charged battery

What's the resting voltage for the battery?

What's the voltage when you press the starter button?
 
It's normal in this case. The solenoid takes about 1 amp just to make it click and that's why the voltage is a little lower when you press the button.

Something you could try.

Put the bike on center stand and in top gear.

Grab the rear tire and turn it backwards.

This rotates the engine and starter backwards.

put it back in neutral and try the start button

This might allow the brushes to make contact if there is a dead spot in the armature inside the starter. Or if there was something between the brush and armature.
 
I have tried that with no success. I took some picks of the starter, sorry all I have is my phone. Does it look ok?
 
had this happen to me, it ended up being the solenoid. it would click, but not work the starter. i disassembled it and cleaned it up, some burned contacts in there, works great now. just a possibility.
greg
 
0mental0 said:
I have read some posts about this and they all say I should be able to cross the two posts on the solenoid and the starter should turn over. I tried it, and I get nothing but the solenoid click. I am scared to death of wiring, can you throw some suggestions my way in the most redneck terms possible?
Click to expand...

I like your psoting title "welcome to my click".
haa haa

You say you "cross the two post on solenoid" and you get only the click.
Ah, what two posts are you "crossing"?
TO preform this test you should be crossing the two big posts, which should just put battery power staright to the starter. THis is to eliminate any of the ignition key and the clutch swtich and the starter button and the solenoid itself, and just put battery power straight to the starter motor, as a test of the battery and the starter motor. SHould not involve any click of the solenoid (might be a kissst spark sound).

If you were crossing the one big post (to one from the battery) to the small post, that would just just eliminate the ignition switch and and the clutch swtich and the starter button, but still be using the solenoid the same as if the button had energized the solenoid, and click just the same as if the button clicked the solenoid. That is what you would do if you were concerend with a problem with the ignition swtich or the clutch switch or the starter button.

Now, about your photos:
Cant really tell.
THe brushes look like they have enogh lenght left, not all worn down and real short (I have seen them still work when worn down to about where that wire attatches). Would also need to see the the commutator (where the brushes ride on the rotor).
The stator does seem to have an unsuall wear pattern, but cant really tell.

Good test of your battery and the starter motor is to jump acrost the two big post on your solenoid.

.

.
 
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Yep, I was gonna say what Redman just said.

If you cross the two big posts on the solenoid, you should NOT hear a click, you should hear the starter turn.
Crossing the two big posts does NOT energize the solenoid for the "click".

.
 
Just to clarify, when I cross the two big posts at the solenoid nothing happens. I also noticed after the starter is apart the brushes need replaced, so those are getting done. I still don't understand why nothing happens at the solenoid. I figured I would atleast get a spark or something.
 
0mental0 said:
Just to clarify, when I cross the two big posts at the solenoid nothing happens. I also noticed after the starter is apart the brushes need replaced, so those are getting done. I still don't understand why nothing happens at the solenoid. I figured I would atleast get a spark or something.
Click to expand...

Apparently Beacuse your starter is not a starter, it is nothing. If the brushes are real bad they are not making any connection to anything.
So when you cross the solenoid you are putting power to <<nothing>> , no current flow.

If you are replacing ghe brushes, you will also want to clean up the commutator at least some. Maybe touch it up with emmory paper to get the brush material off of it. To do a better job will require machine shop tools.

Here are pics of when I did that. I did mine by hand in a hand drill and emmory cloth on a paint stick.

<<let me look for the photos



.
 
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Does the selinoid click when you push the starter button/ If it does at least you know thats good. And I know your smart enough to check the fuses, but recheck to se if they had blown since last you checked.. May sound fundamental but they can be bad BEHIND the metal ends as well and the wire look just fine..even if it LOOKS good..try a new one anyways just for $hits and grins..
 
Before.
Mine was not completrly dead (like yours) was turning slow and sometimes even slower, would have to hit the buitton a few times to get it to go slow (instead of real slow).
IMG_1057.jpg


After
IMG_1060.jpg


Note: my starter happened to be the type that has 4 brushes.
 
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Thank you guys for all the help. After the brushes are replaced and I clean up the solenoid, I will see if it does the trick, I miss riding my GS. Again thank you all.
 
FIRST charge the battery !!! 12.11 volts is low !! Should read AT LEAST 12.6
 
SqDancerLynn1 said:
FIRST charge the battery !!! 12.11 volts is low !! Should read AT LEAST 12.6
Click to expand...

Better still, charging may do nothing. He needs to see what the battery reads when he pulls a load when hitting the starter. If it bombs out (like dropping from 12 to 6 volts) the battery is trash.
 
cafe...Nice..

cafe...Nice..

Looking to do the same with my GS looking for advise....Thanks in advance...
 
Steve said:
Yep, I was gonna say what Redman just said.

If you cross the two big posts on the solenoid, you should NOT hear a click, you should hear the starter turn.
Crossing the two big posts does NOT energize the solenoid for the "click".

.
Click to expand...

What if it does? :o

I laid a screwdriver across the posts and hit the starter button, single click for each push. It was chattering at first so I rechecked all grounds and tried again, now I just get the single click. Maybe I'm doing somethin else wrong? :confused:

Glad you got it going 0mental0! :clap:
 
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