Well...today's the day.

[bwringer]

Thanks for the comments. Now it's on to phase 2. Tires, brakes and all the pretty shiny cosmetic things.
Don't know how many times this has happened but, I think, it's worth mentioning.
I knew that I had everything put back together correctly. I had good power to the headlight and instrument cluster. I switched the kill switch to run, hit the starter button.......nothing.....tried again....nothing, no clicking, just nothing. So, I used a screwdriver and jumped the solenoid, the motor tried to start. The next thing I did was open a beer and thought for a minute....or two.....really about ten.
Why not try pulling in the clutch, even though the bike was in neutral......it's worth a shot.

She fired right up !!!!!!

SO.....after you get everything back together, you have a gas tank rigged up, turn on the key, turn off the kill switch, some choke, PULL IN THE CLUTCH and hit the start button.
My lesson for the day kids.

What Larry graciously left out was that he called me up to talk through this conundrum, and the clutch switch never once crossed my mind, either.

The clutch switch on my GS acted up years ago and I bypassed it, so maybe I sort of forgot it existed... Yeaaaahhh... that's the ticket.

But the lesson is well learned -- stop and think about the simple stuff first!

[Texas]

Way cool

I just saw your link , that must have felt good!

[glstine]

Belated congratulations. Watched the vid and I am stoked now, hope to be starting the gs550 that I am rebuilding for the first time this weekend