No start with button starter fine also light problem

[MurrayGS]

So The button for the start doenst do anything but the starter is fine because the bike turns over when you touch a wire to the celinoid. so idk what to do about that but also the head light doesnt work but the light on the dash says its engaged. also this is my first bike so explain like im 4 please!

[cowboyup3371]

Have you checked out your fuses and ensured all are working fine? Take a power light to them, don't just eyeball them.

[mike_of_bbg]

Do you have a multi-meter?

[MurrayGS]

Ok ill try that and yeah i have a multi meter... i was told it could be a pinched wire?

[mike_of_bbg]

Are you pulling in the clutch? There's a clutch safety switch for the starter, although many of these bikes have had it bypassed over the years. Could be a bad wire or issues with the starter switch.

BTW, you might want to put your bike in your signature so we can know which model we're working with. IIRC, my left control has a separate ground wire (in addition to a 9-pin connector) and the headlight won't work if that gets loose.

[MurrayGS]

Idk how to put the signature in lo lbut i have a 1980 gs 450 L
and how do you check for the clutch switch?

[cowboyup3371]

Your signature can be modified using the User CP area at the top of the forum page.

[spyug]

IMHO 9 times out of 10 the problem is in the switch mechanism itself. The contacts get dirty or corroded and the juice doesnt flow. The easiest way to sort these problems is witha circuit test light, available for a few bucks at any autostore and an invaluable tool for working on these electrics.

With the alligator clip clamped to the battery negative or to the bike frame the probe end can be touched to any wire or connector and if it lights up you have power. It also helps immensly to refer to the wiring diagram for your bike ( have a look on BikeCliff's site if you don't have a manual) to follow the path of the power.

Carefully open up the right hand switch control and with the ignition key on use the probe tofind the power coming in and with the kill switch in run position check that power is going out. I'll bet its not. Carefully dissassemble things and clean all the copper contacts. Recheck for power out.

It could also be that the solenoid is bad so once you confirm power out of the switch check to see you have power at the solenoid (connector with 2 wires...one ground, one power). Press the starter button to see power at that connector. Jumping the solenoid tells you nothing other than the starter works. If there is power to the solenoid and it doesn't click and turn the starter it is toast. You can get a generic solenoid from the garden tractor parts section at Lowes for about $12. Stock zuk ones can be $40+.

Good luck and let us know when you sort it.

Cheers,
spyug

[miked]

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=1442167

[DanTheMan]

It could also be a poor ground at the solenoid itself. Run a seperate ground wire from one of the solenoid mounting bolts to the neg. battery post. Your headlight may be burned out, you may just need a new bulb, or it may even be unplugged.

[MurrayGS]

sounds good I'll try that stuff and get back to you

[MurrayGS]

ok so i got the light tester and there is power going to the start button what should i check next? the celinoind?

[mike_of_bbg]

There should be a yellow/green wire that is the output from the starter button. It appears that then goes to the clutch safety switch, returns to another Y/G wire, and heads back to the solenoid.

Checking the clutch switch lead is the next step. It's in the headlight bucket. You can check your headlight while you're in there.

There's a wiring diagram for your bike on BassCliff's BikeCliff web site:

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/GSX400_GS450_wiring.pdf

[cableguy]

You can also bypass the clutch switch in the headlight bucket by disconnecting the switch wires and you'll see that the harness wires are male and female- just connect them. After you're done testing reconnect the clutch switch.