Not starting

[RichA]

So the bike ran fine last Monday (1992 FJ1200) - went to start yesterday and tried to run than nothing. Have recharged the battery just in case, but when you press the start there is nothing. You hear a few clicks when the ignition is turned on but that is it.

Any help/pointers of where to start would be appreciated (relative mechanical novice)

Thanks

[Pat Conlon]

Sounds like you have a bad battery or bad cable connections to the battery.

[FJmonkey]

Sticking/dirty run switch maybe? Had that once on a rally.

[RichA]

Thanks both, but not sure this is the issue.

The battery is fully charged, and the lights etc work. As do the dash lights.
Turn on the ignition and the run switch and there is the tick of the fuel relays (?)- neutral light is lit as bike is in neutral.
Press the starter and nothing - but the red fuel and oil lights flash

Any ideas gratefully received.

[Old Rider]

1.try another battery. 2 times i had battery blown making a popping sound under the seat when cranking (gel batteries) after  that all lights works ,but the starter not turning.

2. Try holding the clutch lever in.

3. make sure the side-stand is up.


sometimes the sidestand switch is wonky also the clutchlever switch can be funky.
you can test them by using a short wire and jump wire their terminals .

Goood luck

[Pat Conlon]

Press the starter and nothing - but the red fuel and oil lights flash

^^^ this is the key. Your Run/Stop switch on the handlebar is in the Stop (off) position.
If you read the Owner's Manual you will see that this is how you check to see that the fuel bulb and oil level bulb are working. Turn the Run/Stop to the stop (or off) position, key ignition on, and press the starter button. Both fuel level and oil level lights should illuminate.

Cheers

Pat

[RichA]

All good and enabling me to check things off

1) Turned ignition on, left kill switch off. Press starter and oil and fuel lights flash on
2) moved the kill switch back and forth a few times to clear any issue there possibly
3) Ignition on, kill switch set to run. Neutral light is on. Press starter, nothing and neutral light goes off

Could it be the starter relay ? Or what ?

The help is appreciated. Picture of the bike for attention purposes.

[RichA]

And I will try a new battery, check the side stand and clutch switches.

Thanks

[Pat Conlon]

And I will try a new battery, check the side stand and clutch switches.

Thanks

Good idea checking the sidestand and clutch switches. The sidestand circuit is normally closed and opens up when the sidestand is down and the switch plunger is pressed in....meaning, to bypass the switch, unplug the switch lead and jump the two wires together closing the circuit.

The clutch switch is bypassed when in neutral.

Even still, the smart money is on a dodgy battery.
Did you try jumping the battery, see if it starts?

Cheers

[Millietant]

My first port of call with the symptoms and things you've tried already, would be the side stand switch and then the clutch switch.

At the moment, my money is on the side stand switch.

[RichA]

Tried with a jump start pack and a new battery - nothing. So I think the side stand switch is my next port of call. Just waiting for my Haynes manual to arrive - unless anyone has an idiots guide for this ?

[Pat Conlon]

The easy way is doing a simple continuity test on the switch wires.
Don't cut any wires. Follow the 2 wires from the switch up to the plug under the left side cover. Unplug and on the female plug (switch side) insert the probes of your continuity tester.

Normal operation: 
Sidestand up = continuity, circuit closed
Sidestand down = no continuity, circuit open.

How to fix temporarily...unplug as above...

1) You will have a female side of the plug that goes down to the sidestand switch and you will have a male side of the plug with wires that go back to the engine side of the wire harness.
2) Note on the male plug there will be 2 prongs.
3)  Make a 2" jumper wire with small female spade connectors on the ends.
4) Attach the female spade connectors to each prong of the male plug.
 You have now (temporarily) jumped the 2 wires together on the sidestand circuit, effectively closing the circuit.

This method is easily reversible when you get a new switch. Just remove the jumper, plug in new switch.
 No cut wires to splice.

Now, you may think it's silly for me to mention this...but... if you do have a faulty sidestand switch and (because you're waiting for your new part) you do jump the circuit....and decide to go for a ride...

Don't forget and ride off with your sidestand down.....and please don't ask me how I know this....

Cheers

Pat