New bike won't start

[claygs750e]

Good idea, I'll head there today. besides going through all the wiring is there any known issues that I should maybe look at first when it comes to the start button not working?

[GateKeeper]

open it up and see, maybe a dead spider in there, or an old nest, or corrosion, all could be possible, perhaps it's melted on the inside, many things could be a cause....

Take it apart and have a look inside...

.

[claygs750e]

Ok I opened it up and tell me if I'm wrong on the what I'm telling you. The switch did have a dead bug, cob webs ect. Cleaned that out and also took out the copper button, spring and connector from the start switch and cleaned them off till they looked nice and shiny. Tried to start, nothing. I followed the wire down to behind the light and there's two orange/white strips and a yellow/green striped coming from the start switch. The yellow/green striped wire connected to another wire that went to the clutch (is this the clutch safety people are talking about?) So where that wire connected on the clutch looked fine. I even bypassed the clutch and plugged the yellow/green striped to the same color going back to the solenoid, still nothing. Then all 3 wires looks like it gets fed back to the where the yellow/green striped wire connects to the solenoid. I can't find where the two other wires go. So I can't see anything obvious, is there a way I can test with my multimeter to eliminate sections?

[koolaid_kid]

Yes. The orange/white wire is 12V throughout your harness. It is powered when the key is ON. One of those wires carries 12V to the kill switch. When the kill switch is in the RUN position it completes the connection and sends 12V back to the ignition down the other orange/white wire. You can check those with a multimeter.

[claygs750e]

So if I take the volt meter and hold one of the connectors on the yellow/green wire and touch the other connection to ground should I get 12V? Sorry, but I'm not experienced with the multi-meter either.

Also, since I bypassed the clutch and still got no action from the starter button and I am able to crank the motor if I short the solenoid what does that leave? bad switch or wire connection?

[koolaid_kid]

I see you live in Fishers. Would you like me to come over and give you a hand? It would be a lot easier than all of this.
I will PM you my phone number and we can talk.

[tom203]

I see you live in Fishers. Would you like me to come over and give you a hand? It would be a lot easier than all of this.
I will PM you my phone number and we can talk.

Wow, housecall! this must be obamacare kicking in!

[claygs750e]

Thanks again George that was real cool of you to swing by and explain some things so I don't you touture the other gs members with 1000 other questions. Really appreciate it

[subid]

Thanks again George that was real cool of you to swing by and explain some things so I don't you touture the other gs members with 1000 other questions. Really appreciate it

You are one lucky guy

[koolaid_kid]

You are welcome. It was nice to hear another abandoned GS come back to life.

[Frank Z.]

You are welcome. It was nice to hear another abandoned GS come back to life.

What was the diagnosis, doctor?

[chuck hahn]

I am going with the clutch safety switch was out of adjustment. Reset it or bypass it in the headlight bucket. Or it was missing all together!!!

[koolaid_kid]

Good tries, but it was pretty simple. He had taken his starter switch apart to clean it and did not reinstall it on the bars, so it had no ground.
Bolted it back on the bars and voila.
It started really easy, and sounded really good, considering it had sat for 8 years.
Lots of issues, clearly a project bike, but he seems patient and understanding.

[chuck hahn]

AHH..i had forgotten the bars were the grounds!!! Good reminder.

[claygs750e]

It's funny because as soon as you left I wanted to hear it one more time and hit the button and nothing again! So I removed it and reinstalled it and it worked. What contacts should be cleaned that would make the switch intermittent like that? I've already cleaned the copper button, but what else?