82 gs650g bike help

[FeartheZuk]

Hey all, I am new to the form and so glad i found you all. Ive had this bike for one summer, It is a 1982 gs650g. Now having troubles first off the other day i went to ride the bike to work it started up fine. i stopped to get a bite to eat. When i went back out i went to fire her her up and pressed start button.(yes the kill switch was set to run). I was able to push start it with no problem. Well i got to work. When going home went out and nothing from the button. I also could not push start it. Found the battery dead hooked it up to a truck tried, still got nothing from the start button but was able to get it started but arcing the selenoid. I ve replaced the contact, button and spring still nothing any ideas. This is my first bike and love riding it please help.

The next problem is the horn. The horn has been iffy since i got it worked 1 min not the next. now not at all. I know horn works connected it directly to bettery so problem is else where i have replaced the contact, button and spring to this still nothing.

Thanks from a newbie
Tim

[FeartheZuk]

Any ideas i need this bike not only for fun but to commute to work???

[Nessism]

I suggest you check out your charging system. There is an instructional series called the Stator Papers on the GSR homepage. You may have to charge the battery first but hopefully you can get it started.

[FeartheZuk]

i actually charged a little tonight and the arced the selenoid in hopes bike would charge after about 15 min of running the bike died now there are no signal lights on instrament panel

[FeartheZuk]

After thinking about it i recently dropped it on its side while moveing it in garage and now it don't wanna start with the start button. If i cross the contacts at the starter it does start. The fuses are all good, including at the igition. Only the start button dosent do anything. And once i start up the bike it runs great. It did start up once after, the day i was going to work but once i turned it off start button stopped working i hope this helps any suggestions would be great thanks

[chef1366]

Sounds like a bad solenoid.

[FeartheZuk]

starter slenoid???? World i be able to arc it if it were bad???

[chef1366]

You basically bypass it by arching it.

[Dave_17954]

mine wasnt starting awhile back and thought it was the selonoid. basically was "arcing" or jumping it as you say to get it started. turned out that the wire from the battery to the seloniod was almost broken in 2 pieces at the connector at the battery post. i made up a new wire and its started right up ever since. I would check that wire first as its a quick and inexpensive fix then look at the selonoid. also be sure your connections are clean and tight.

[Redman]

FTZ Tim,

Welcome to GSR.

I had 82 GS650G for 20+ years from new. Never had to do much work on it. (pic on my weblink). SOmetimes wonder where it went.

If you say the button does nothing but will start if "arc" the solenoid, then we know the starter motor is working and problem is the solenoid will not do its job. What we do not know, and need to determine, is if the solenoid is defective or if the solenoid is not even trying to operate because the starter button circuit has a problem. Next time try jumping power to the smaller terminal on the solenoid (green/yellow), this will sustitute for the starter button circuit. IF it starts then you know the solenoid will work, and problem is in the starter button circuit.

I noticed in all your description that you didnt mention any voltage readings. WOuld be better to troubleshoot this with a volt meter (or maybe a tester light), but since you havent mentioned any such thing. I have tried to describe how to further troubleshoot your starter/solenoid/button problem without a meter. Sooner or later you are going to want to have a voltmeter anyway to check the charging system (or work on your horn circuit).

Tell us more of what you observe.

.

[FeartheZuk]

If it is the selenoid can i pick one up at autozone???? Ill probaby just replace it as i dont think they are very expensive. I know there are no electrical readings because i dont have an ohmmeter and lol wouldnt know how to use it properly. Im very new the mechanical and electrical stuff but i am learning. I am picking up a meter today a neighbor is an electrical engineer he said he would show me how to use it. How would one go about testing the starter buttton circuit and the horn circuit.

[boathead]

are you sure something didn't come detached when the bike fell over? shouldn't it be relatively easy to check the connector of the starter switch to the solenoid? i think it's the little green messenger wire that goes to the solenoid.

[Nessism]

Cleaning the battery cables also helps since resistance builds up. Best to check everything before throwing parts at the problem.

[FeartheZuk]

i did clean battery cable and all connections didnt help with anything. As for checking connections im not real sure how to.

[FeartheZuk]

Checked all connections for continuity from selenoid to switch all is good but looseing 2 volts from switch to battery and found that clutch switch was disconnected hooked it back up and still nothing