Bike won't start

[SupSay_Z]

hey guys whats up? this is my first time posting on this board, but i have been looking at it from time to time since i bought my 89 gs a few months ago and i think its very informative . but today i have a question. i am in the military, so im not home very much and havent had a lot of time to ride lately. anyways when i went to start the bike last week, i had nothing, no sound, no clicking, nothing . the kickstand was down, but it was in neutral, with the kickstand up it was the same thing, in all gears. it was noty the battery, because the light was bright and the horn was loud. i tested the start switch but that was fine. yesterday i did a search for similar posts and located a write up by Kerry, which helped me locate the starter solenoid. so i tried shorting it and the motor turned good, but still no start. i pulled the spark plug wire while starting it and i had no spark. i currently dont have a repair manual for it yet, so your help is rellay apprecieated, thanx.

alex

[Kerry]

You didn't mention whether the clutch lever was pulled in.  It needs to be pulled in to start even when the bike is in neutral.  It will RUN in neutral with the sidestand down and the clutch lever out, but it won't START that way.

I sure hope it's something this simple.  But if not ... come on back!    It may turn out to be the clutch switch itself.

[red_phil]

My '94 bike starts without the clutch being held in (in neutral obviously).

Is this a feature on certain years of the bike?
Perhaps it's restricted to US models?

[SupSay_Z]

thanx for the reply Kerry. yes i did try it with the clutch in thnking this might be it, however,  before it used to start with out it if it was in neutral.

[MarkusN]

Phil: The clutch switch is a relatively new addition. 1997 or thereabouts.

[stephan]

My 1990 *HAD* a clutch switch.  That was until I replaced the handlebars and couldn't the switch to work right.  Snip snip, twist twist and lots of electrical tape!  

Anyway, it's possible that your battery has enough juice to operate the lights, but not enough to actually turn the engine over.  It could also be the starter has gone bad.  I'd try putting a battery charger on it for a day or so and try again.  If that doesn't work I'd start searching this forum for starter problems others have had.

Good luck!  

[Kerry]

No, the starter motor isn't bad (see SupSay_Z's opening post), but the starter relay could be.  Supsay, you might want to go back to that same post of mine and try some diagnostics on the relay.

Meanwhile, my first post in the ACK! Bike won't turn over! thread has some wiring diagram info that might be helpful.  (It also contains a link to that starter relay thread if you can't find it again.)

[SPARKPLUG1977]

If the starter relay is shot replace it with a starter relay from a riding lawnmower.  My 89 has a fresh john deere starter relay and works like a charm.  total cost: $3.95 usd

[Kerry]

If the starter relay is shot replace it with a starter relay from a riding lawnmower.  My 89 has a fresh john deere starter relay and works like a charm.  total cost: $3.95 usd

Don't hold back on us ... do you have links?  Pictures?  A part number?  :mrgreen: