Bike won't start unless I bypass the solonoid.

[Hi Test]

I am new to this forum and just joined as a new member. I just bought a 86 FJ 1200 that hadn't been run for 6 years. I cleaned the carbs, cleaned the tank and tried to start it. The only way I could engage the starter was to ground out the solenoid coil wire. The ignition is active with the key on and the engine runs great, but will not start unless you ground the solenoid coil wire. On another note, the fuel gauge does not work either. I checked the fuel level sending unit and the resistance changes from 20 ohms to about 118 ohms indicating that the sending unit is OK.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Test

[Dan Filetti]

You're not in Seattle, are you...

Kidding, bit of an inside joke. Welcome here. Check the obvious stuff: side stand switch, starter switch, neutral safety switch, make certain the battery is well grounded...

It will likely be one of these.

Good luck,

Dan

[fintip]

 

But seriously, check out the last 3 or 4 pages of "prospect purchase."

[Hi Test]

Thanks, I think I found the problem, I traced it to the 41R-71 relay. It appears that the mice droppings caused the relay to fail.
Regards!

[FJmonkey]

Welcome Hi Test, glad you found your problem. With mice it is usually not the droppings that cause the problem. How about an introduction so we know something about our new member.

[Mark Olson]

take the relay out and smack it on the ground , sometimes this makes it work cause it just got stuck.