troubleshooting time

[dbelch]

I need some advice re: starter seems dead in the water..just finished replacing the entire wiring harness, including all resisters, diodes, solenoids, relays, etc, etc. 

Today was the big test.. brand new battery hot off the charger..ignition on..all lights functioning, neutral light lit, horn beeps, flashers flash, no click from the starter solenoid.  Switched it out..now clicks when the engine stop button is engaged or disengaged.  When the start switch is engaged, the headlight turns off, the low oil light illuminates...but thats all I get..no starter function.

Next?

[dbelch]

O..right..it is the '86...not the '91 pictured on my profile...

Thanks

[Flying Scotsman]

Starter comes out in 5 min,look at it and see if its seized up.
Hit it with 12 volts from some jumper cables for a second and see if it spins.

[terryk]

Really, the starter comes out in 5 minutes. I am scared to death to try this. Any tips as I want to replace my starter.

[grannyknot]

Also, I believe the starter is grounded through where is mounts on the engine, so after you remove it for testing take some steel wool and clean those contact areas on both the starter and engine block.

[andyb]

Starter is held in by what, two bolts and the wiring?  Very easy to pop out of there and check.  Easier yet is applying power straight to the terminal on it (straight to the battery's positive side).  If it spins easy, the problem is a crap solenoid or weak connection someplace.  If it doesn't spin, either the starter is locked up or the motor is.

[dbelch]

No problem removing the starter...(except for that painfull air box...to expose the wiring)  Spun fine. 

[dbelch]

ok..new clue..starter engages when I jump the small L/W wire on the solenoid directly to the neg. battery terminal..still no action on the starter switch itself (except for the headlight turning off..and the oil light coming on)  Next?

[andyb]

If it ain't getting from here to there, the there is working, the here is working, what's between that ain't?  Break out a multimeter and start tracing things, looking for a high resistance connection someplace.  Solenoid/relay most likely.

[dbelch]

K..we'll give it a go..Thanks.   

[racerman_27410]

i would start at the sidestand safety switch   (at the sidestand)
then i would look at the clutch safety switch (at the clutch master cylinder)


both have two wires that you can jump together to bypass the safetys


I bet one of these is your problem! 


KOokaloo!

[ninjamuder]

went through this on my 85 when i bought it over the summer.......

the wire from the start button on the r/h switch is routed THROUGH the turn signal relay.......you should have 2 blue/white wires in the connector......check to see if it is completing the circuit when the button is depressed....btw, this is a switched GROUND, not a switched positive lead...it applied ground to the solenoid to engage the starter

doh, just remembered why yama-mamma does this....its so it cuts the power to the rest of the lighting on the bike during cranking to minimize voltage loss to the starter during cranking

[dbelch]

ninjamuder...just wondering..the oil light comes on as the starter button is deppressed..(as well as the headlight going off)  does the L/W wire (which ends up at the solenoid) pass thru the oil level indicator?  Could this be a clue..or does the oil light come on when the starter is engaged normally? 

[SlowOldGuy]

The headlight goes off and the oil light comes on when the starter button is pressed.

As Frank advised, make sure your problem is not one of the "safety" switches (clutch and sidestand).  Eliminate those now!  They are easy to jumper and could be causing the starter to not work.

DavidR.

[flips]

went through this on my 85 when i bought it over the summer.......

the wire from the start button on the r/h switch is routed THROUGH the turn signal relay.......you should have 2 blue/white wires in the connector......check to see if it is completing the circuit when the button is depressed....btw, this is a switched GROUND, not a switched positive lead...it applied ground to the solenoid to engage the starter

doh, just remembered why yama-mamma does this....its so it cuts the power to the rest of the lighting on the bike during cranking to minimize voltage loss to the starter during cranking

Hi there.

I agree this is also definitely something to check.My 86 intermittently would do as you described.I too thought it to be the starter motor,and when the starter motor actually turned over it was struggling so I bought a starter motor rebuild kit  and replaced the brushes & bearings and cleaned the commutator(the brushes were nearly completely stuffed so it was overdue).I put it back together and it started beautifully,starter motor easily turning over the engine and  I thought "job done,what a fart young smella" 
Then the problem returned.Eventally found the blue/white wire broken in the insulation just near the turn signal relay. 

Hope this helps.

Jeff P