starter Drags at times

[lakesguypaul]

i have a 81 gs 750L
my starter drags at times and other times it doesn't, i have replaced the starter and it still does it,i have cleaned all connections and replaced the relay also, i also have sprayed contact cleaner in the stater button.still does it,could it be the battery?i is older and i don't know how old as it came in the bike.Lights are dim until you get up some rpms.any ideas? Thanks for your time

[tom203]

i have a 81 gs 750L
my starter drags at times and other times it doesn't, i have replaced the starter and it still does it,i have cleaned all connections and replaced the relay also, i also have sprayed contact cleaner in the stater button.still does it,could it be the battery?i is older and i don't know how old as it came in the bike.Lights are dim until you get up some rpms.any ideas? Thanks for your time

Get a new battery and save your starter from overwork! Dimming lights, slow starter are symptoms of weak battery- your charging system will need checking but you need a good battery for the tests.

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. lakesguypaul,

Have a look at this article collected on my little website - Diagnosing Slow Cranking - and see if it helps. Start by cleaning every electrical connection on the entire wiring harness. Your bike will love you for it.

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BassCliff

[Redman]

i have a 81 gs 750L
my starter drags at times and other times it doesn't, i have replaced the starter and it still does it,i have cleaned all connections and replaced the relay also, i also have sprayed contact cleaner in the stater button.still does it,could it be the battery?i is older and i don't know how old as it came in the bike.Lights are dim until you get up some rpms.any ideas? Thanks for your time

Please describe more about starter "dragging".
You mean not turning as fast as you think it should?
Or are you hearing some grinding/dragging?

To answer your question: Yes, it could be the battery being weak.
And/or, it could be the charging system not fully charging the battery.

When you say lights are dim, I quess that is kinda hard to quantify.
But is normal to be brighter at higher rpms (as comapred to idle).
Real test would be to have a volt meter and check battery/charging voltage at idle and at mid (4-5thou) rpm.

SOme folks dont get much more than 2 years out of a battery. Others get 4 years depending on how is maintained over off season and other things. (but you dont kow how old it is)

You check the battery fluid level?

You have a volt meter?

You have a battery charger?

If you have replaced the starter and the relay (solenoid), that is pretty much the entire system, except for the battery.
THe starter button either pulls in the solonoid or it doesnt. And in your case, it does. It would be the contacts in the solenoid that carry the starter motor current (not the starter button).

Other thing to check would be the negitive (ground) cable to the back of the engine case. You said you cleaned the calbes and connetions, but soemtimes folks overlook the negitive battery calbe connection to the back of the engine case.

.