GS1100 wont start unless bounced off of kickstand

[Guest]

Hello guys and gals,

As the title describes, my GS1100 wont start unless I bounce it off of the kickstand and hold the starter button when its warm. When it's cold forget about it, I have to bridge the solenoid with a screwdriver to get it to go but it starts right up! Once the starter engages it doesn't have any issues turning the motor over or running, it's just getting it to wake up that is the problem. I have it in neutral, the bike is at its complete resting position, I've tried with the kickstand up and down, and the only thing that seems to work is jarring it off the stand on the left side or bridging the solenoid, otherwise the button is dead at the push.

Now I have gone through every inch of the wiring and everything I can think of with a Multimeter, and also had second, and third opinions, and everything checks out. My only thought is that it is something with the starter itself, I don't know. So looking outside the realm of faulty wiring, what would cause it to fail to activate at the starter button when everything has power and what would be the reason that the little bump off of the kickstand would cause it to fire? I'm so confused by this haha.

Thank you in advance!!!

[BigD_83]

Sounds like bouncing it off the kickstand is forcing the brushes in the starter to make contact...

[tom203]

"....I have to bridge the solenoid with a screwdriver to get it to go but it starts right up! "

Are you bridging the two big terminals on solenoid? Have you tried applying 12 volt positive to the solenoid's trigger terminal? This bypasses the starter button and any other switches along the way to solenoid.

[roadflare]

Yes, sorry the terminals on the solenoid are what I cross with a screwdriver, some sparks and click and away it goes. I'm not very familiar with motorcycles so I'm trying the best I can with what I have. I haven't done that no, and full disclosure, I'm not quite sure what that means so I'll have to google-search the heck out of it and figure out how to do it. But in case this provides me with a result like it turning over, what would that mean? Does that mean that the starter needs a rebuild or maybe just some TLC... or does that mean I have an issue in my harness somewhere?

[tom203]

There are three terminals on solenoid: a big one that runs to battery positive, another big one that runs to starter motor, and a little wire terminal that is the trigger wire for the solenoid- when this little guy sees 12 volt positive, solenoid should click in and starter motor should spin. But the solenoid frame itself needs to be grounded or the trigger wire won't work. Often the solenoid loses this ground connection due to corrosion. Bouncing on bike could complete this ground connection.

[BigD_83]

But the solenoid frame itself needs to be grounded or the trigger wire won't work. Often the solenoid loses this ground connection due to corrosion. Bouncing on bike could complete this ground connection.

This is a more likely scenario than just jiggling the starter motor so the brushes are making contact with the armature. It should also be easier to check.

[Rijko]

you've done great in finding that the bike starts consistently when you apply 12 volt to the trigger wire.

If the bike refuses to start, first thing to do is listen for the *click* sound on the solenoid.
If i understood you correctly, the solenoid does not always click when pressing the starter button, which
would indicate a wiring problem.
--> can you confirm the clicking behaviour ?

For your understanding, power to the starter relais (solenoid) starts at the battery, goes to ignition switch.
After ignition switch is set to ON, power continues to the kill switch.
Only after flipping the kill switch to run, power continues to starter button, and only while pressing the starter button power is going to the solenoid, making it go *click*

Sometimes the route also includes security switches on clutch or sidestand.
--> do you need to pull the clutch or flip the sidestand to get the bike to start ?

If the solenoid does not click, i would unplug the trigger wire. The wire plug is very close to the solenoid.
The female plug in the wiring harness is 12 volt coming from the starter button.
Attach a voltmeter, testing light or buzzer to this plug. (with ground to the negative terminal of the battery)
If you press the starter button, this should consistently result in 12 volt/beep/light.

If not, try messing with cables on the rh handle switch, headlight, ignition switch while pressing the starter button and see if that yields result.
Let's go from there, we'll find it.

[roadflare]

Ok! when I get home tonight I will check the solenoid for a proper ground and make sure everything is connected properly. With a little monkeying around i should be able to test the 12v tonight and see what i have cooking. Thank you all and Ill post what i find out tomorrow once i get back.