GS450L Won't do anything

[jonsgs550l]

Hi all,

Just picked up a 83 GS450L and installed the battery and fully charged it and turn the key and everything turns on but when I press the start button nothing happens. Checked can cleaned all connections on battery, relay, and kill switch and made sure kill switch is on, but still nothing. I've never worked on electrical problems on a bike before and was wondering if anyone can help me with this one. Were should I try next? Thanks all!!!!

[DanTheMan]

Clutch safety switch maybe? Are all the wires making contact on the back of your key switch? Is you starter solenoid properly grounded?

[Steve]

Yep, sounds like the clutch "safety switch" has claimed another victim.

Try your starting procedure again, but do two things first:
1. set the "choke"
2. pull the clutch lever

then push the starter button.

In the interest of saving us from ourselves, a switch was added to the clutch lever which required pulling the lever EVERY TIME you want to start the bike. Does not matter whether it's in gear or in neutral, you have to pull the lever. It is, however, easy to bypass the switch, if desired.

Try starting the bike. If the clutch switch is the "problem" and you want to bypass it, let us know, we'll tell you how to bypass it.

.

[jonsgs550l]

Thanks for the quick reply guys...will try it when I go home tonight.

[pete]

If that's a no go, could be your starter solenoid is buggered also, but hopefully it's just a dodgy connection on the clutch switch (my 450E doesn't have one thankfully).

[jonsgs550l]

That did the trick. Thanks everyone. I'm so new to these bike I didn't know that it had a safty switch. I have a gs550l also and didn't have to do that, that why I didn't know. I checked my gs550 and the switch has been removed thats why. I will probably do the samething to the 450 as soon as I rebuild the engine...ok wish me luck...

[pete]

My 450 doesn't have a clutch or side stand switch on it, so I never even think to mention them either...