Need some help w/starting

[Guest]

Hi all. Tried searching for answers to this problem but didn't find anything obvious.

Bike ('82 GS650G) was running fine last time I rode:-D . Tried to ride to work this morning, and when I pressed the 'start' button, all I'd get is a 'click'.

Thought maybe the battery had lost some charge since its been cold in the garage so just drove the car into work. Got home, check battery and had just under 12V. Put it on the charger, once charged, tried starting it, just getting the 'click'.

Checked the voltage on the battery, its full.
Checked the voltage at the soliniod and its good.

Can't figure out how to get the f-ing plastic cover off the fuses to see if I just have a blown fuse to the starter. (Any tips?).

What else can it be? I could try push starting it down the driveway if thats suggested but will need my neighbor to help push is back up if unsuccessful.

Thanks! Weather is gorgeous here now in Colorado and really wanted to ride this weekend....dang it!!!

: )

[Big T]

First, if you're getting a click, that means the solenoid is getting power

I suspect it is just not getting enough power

After you charged your battery, was it at 12.5-13V?

Hook the voltmeter up to the battery and push the starter button. What is the voltage then? If it's 10V or less = new battery

The most likely problem is the battery. Forget about the fuses, batteries will just suddenly die, which is what it sounds like happened to you. Are you using a motorcycle battery charger on it? How old is your battery?

[DanTheMan]

If it's clicking, the solenoid is operating (but maybe not well enough). Check/clean and re-ground all your ground cables, run them to the battery neg. post if possible. You may have to pull your starter and see if it or the starter clutch has seized up too. Do the ground checks first, they're easiest.:-D

[78GS750]

Just like a car. "Click" is often a bad/corroded connection. Clean all the connections. Ground and Positive cables between the battery, solenoid, and starter.
This happens to my old Chevy all the time. 8-[

[jbs80106]

Okay....thanks for the tips....here's whats new..

- battery is just barely 5 months old.

- on full charge usually carries about 12.7V (just measured and it was at 12.26V as I've been trying to get it started and drained it a bit I guess).

- recently pulled battery out, disconnected solioid and several ground plugs trying to replace my reg/rect (unsuccessfully as I couldn't get it off). Replaced everything and bike ran fine. In fact, I suspected i needed to replace the reg/rect and stator because riding over 60miles would result in the battery draining down and not being strong enough to restart the bike. It would barely crank and then nothing (not even the click). When I put everything back together I did a 100mi ride with some friends and strangely enough the battery still had like 12.4V on it when I got back home. Thought maybe I had fixed something by messing around with the wiring and the grounds. Maybe one of the grounds has some loose again???

- will try to restart it on a full charge and see what happens...also will check voltage drop when I do hit the start button at the battery.

[nabrams]

Try hooking up jumper cables from your car battery (car engine must NOT be running!!!!). If the bike starts, then you know it's one of two things:
1. Weak battery
2. Dysfunctional starter - if it's dirty inside (brushes/armature etc.) and preventing full contact then you just need to clean it.

[highmileage]

Those solenoids do go bad. Just because you hear a click doesn't mean that it's making good contact on both ends.

But have you checked the connections on the solenoid and at the strater motor? Gotta have good contact there, too. A loose connection at either of these will cause the symptoms you are experiencing.

Also, try that jumper cable from a car battery directly onto the connection at the starter (bypassing the solenoid). If it doesn't crank, you have a bad starter and if it does, you've narrowed down the problem.

I suspect there's probably a loose nut (actually two - one holding down a wire on your bike and another one typing this).

[jbs80106]

okay, when charger said 'full' battery was as 12.9V. Still just a click. From the time I turn on the ignition key the voltage starts to drop (due to lights?) and pressing the start button causes a drop of .4V or so.

Any other simple things to check out? After my failed attempt at replacing the regulator (seemed simple enough but couldn't get the old one off due to lack of torque I could apply to the screws) I don't think I'll be getting into the starter any time soon.

Not even sure where it is...thought maybe I could do a voltage check there to see if it is even getting any power....

any guesses where the starter is on my bike? Should I just follow the wires from the solinoid....

would push starting give any clues?

(Sorry, just looking for the easiest options before attempting a major repair. Will have to check out all the ground wires and the voltage at the starter as my next steps I guess....)

[jbs80106]

okay, when charger said 'full' battery was as 12.9V. Still just a click. From the time I turn on the ignition key the voltage starts to drop (due to lights?) and pressing the start button causes a drop of .4V or so.

Any other simple things to check out? After my failed attempt at replacing the regulator (seemed simple enough but couldn't get the old one off due to lack of torque I could apply to the screws) I don't think I'll be getting into the starter any time soon.

Not even sure where it is...thought maybe I could do a voltage check there to see if it is even getting any power....

any guesses where the starter is on my bike? Should I just follow the wires from the solinoid....

would push starting give any clues?

(Sorry, just looking for the easiest options before attempting a major repair. Will have to check out all the ground wires and the voltage at the starter as my next steps I guess....)

Do I sound too much like a newbie to motorcycles?

[Big T]

Do I sound too much like a newbie to motorcycles?

You're doing OK for a newbie.

Okay, battery is good. Solenoid is questionable.

As noted above, check all your connections, make sure they're clean and tight, smearing some dielectric grease on them will keep them that way.

So, find your solenoid. It's probably under the left side cover, just follow the click until you find it (or follow the positive battery cable). Hook up your meter to the other terminal ( not the one with the battery cable) and see what voltage you're getting there when you press the starter button. Anything in the 12 V range is good.

If the voltage here is low, solenoid needs cleaning or replacing. If it's good, problem could be the starter. It's on the top of the tranny, under the carbs, has a cover over it.

Push starting should get you running, but it will tell you nothing about why the starter isn't working

[arveejay]

I seen a cylinder fill up with gas due to a leaking petcock once. You can't compress liquid too much so the motor won't turn over. Maybe pull the plugs and while in gear on center stand try turning the wheel a bit. If that's the case just replace the petcock. and change the oil.

[jbs80106]

a little more....

while looking underneath my bike this morning, I pulled the battery out to check the cable connections I had previously messed about with...noticed some white stuff (looked like battery spooge) so I need to clean that up next.

I also noticed on the battery cover that it indicates there should be a little tube from the battery overspill tap to the ground (to keep the spooge off the bike presumably). Mine doesn't have this tube. Does it come with the battery or did it likely get thrown away when previous owner replaced the battery? (or could have fallen off I guess).

What would cause the battery to dribble out? Heat? I notice the h2o level is just ABOVE the fill line, not in between the full/low lines....

Obviously not the cause of my starting problem but an observation.

Also, when looking for the starter (underneath the carbs) I see a round thing attached to the main motor casing, nearly dead center of the engine block, behind the spark-plug parts. Not sure what this does but its coated with grease and dirt.

Is this something to be concerned about or should I just degrease it, clean it up and and keep an eye on it. (Don't know what it does....).

Thanks again!

[nabrams]

Cam chain tensioner.
On some bikes they need to be removed in order to get enough clearance to get the starter out.
Dude, you need a manual.
A manual will tell you how to remove the starter.

[jbs80106]

update...

no answer though. Push started the bike yesterday (unsuccessfully) but after a few failed attempts, pushed the 'start' button and she fired right up....go figure tempermental little b^tch! LOL!

Rode 150 miles today, pic attached. I suspect that my starter is starting to go, add that to the list of jobs to do this winter. Paint, forks, starter, reg/rect.....

Thanks for the help!!!!

Maybe Santa will bring me a manual...

[txironhead]

Next to that oil-crudded thing (cam chain tensioner), there should be a metal plate (some are chrome, some painted) with two bolts or screws holding it down. Your starter is under that plate.