Tip-over leads to total failure

[doshii]

Hey everyone. Site is the rock; it's already helped me with my GS, which is easily the best starter bike around.

My problem is this:
The 1994 GS500 I have tipped after I was finished fixing the clutch lever (broke from tipping as well). The bike tipped to the RIGHT. No handlebar bending, no tank damage, none of that -- only now, the bike won't even sputter. I hit the start button, and I get absolutely zero.

I don't think the carbs are flooded or the spark plugs soaked for this very reason. My guess -- and considering my mechanical prowess, it is a guess -- is that some wires went "haywire" in the right-hand instrument cluster.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what else it might be? Any suggestions (technical or otherwise) would be very much appreciated.

[cernunos]

So the starter isn't kicking in when you hit the start button? Are you getting lights, horn etc? Gotta love the little 500, this forum too.

C.......

[weaselnoze]

check all the wires to see if any got crimped, cut, or damaged

[doshii]

Yeah, I'm getting zero. The lights and everything work perfectly though; I had to take the battery out to clean it up, and I made sure to reattach it properly.

[starwalt]

Sorry to hear about your problems. Does your bike still have the center stand? If so, I recommended it for service work. Regardless, I can think of nothing in the instrument cluster that could cause this. If you mean the handle bar switches then that could be an issue.

As the previous response asks, are the lights, horn, turn signals working? Exactly what do you mean by "nothing"?

There is a 20Amp fuse on your bike, probably near the battery on your year GS. You will have to remove the seat to find it and check it. There may also be a spare tucked away.  The spare will be out in the open whereas the used fuse will be covered. You should be able to look at the fuses and compare.

We need more information to help you better. I have a 90 GS so things are a little different.

[Focer]

Is this the GS that was on craigslist just a few days ago?

[John Bates]

.....................
Does anyone have any ideas as to what else it might be? Any suggestions (technical or otherwise) would be very much appreciated.

If you are new to the GS :dunno: then you may not be aware of the safety interlocking start ckt.

1. With the bike on the side stand the tranny must be in neutral.
2. The clutch lever must be pulled in.
3. Engine kill switch must be in "run" position.
4. Ignition "on".
5. Hit start button.

[pantablo]

Sorry to hear about your problems. Does your bike still have the center stand? If so, I recommended it for service work. Regardless, I can think of nothing in the instrument cluster that could cause this. If you mean the handle bar switches then that could be an issue.

The right side switchgear has the kill switch. Check the kill switch internals to make sure a wire didnt come loose in there. That might have something to do with it.

[JetSwing]

also check the clutch safety switch...it's under the clutch lever. it could be that the switch is not making contact when you pull in the clutch (after the drop & replacement).

[The Buddha]

OK I'll guess ...
Your start button isn't making contact ... mine is so worn its like every 2-3 years I have to take it out and put a dot of lead solder on it ...
BTW You might want to get some case guards ...  :lol:  ... making them soon ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[doshii]

Whole host of replies. You guys are really too kind!

1. I checked the fuse; it's good.
2. No, it wasn't on Craiglist . . . I just bought it, and I want to ride it. I'm a newbie rider, MSF-certed.
3. I do know the start sequence; I rode it for a few weeks before I broke it.
4. I went back and checked those wires (took me some time, though). They all looked good . . .
5. Checked starter button as best I could . . . not worn . . .

Dammit. Dammit dammit dammit dammit!

When the bike first tipped, I had to replace the lever, and I remember that little switch flippy thing and wondered what the hell it was for. Dammit! That's it, I'm sure of it! *grumble*

Now I just have to figure out how to fix it. Here's hoping my Clymer manual helps me out.

You guys are far too kind to a newbie such as me. I cannot thank you enough.

[Bob Broussard]

You can bypass the safety switches by connecting the 2 wires from the switch together. If you don't want to cut them off the switch and twist them together.
You can use a needle to poke through the wires to temporarily connect them.

[Kerry]

Questions:

1) Put the bike in Neutral and see if it will start with the clutch lever OUT.  If so, you may have mounted the switch backwards.

2) I'm assuming your clutch switch looks like the photo below.  Am I right?  (The earliest model years apparently didn't have this switch - I'm not sure when it was added.)  All the switch does is "join" the two wires together to close the safety circuit.  If the switch is actually broken or missing - rather than installed backwards - you can try pushing the connectors over both ends of a paper clip and taping them in place.  Just be aware that your bike will then start regardless of the clutch lever position.[/list:u]

If I/we got it wrong, let me/us know!

[luksi]

Hey...a little closer and that pic of the handlebar underside could be in the mystery picture thread..."What part of the GS is this?" :lol:

[Kerry]

Not a bad idea....  

[starwalt]

After rereading your post (and Kerry's 1st) I don't recall you saying that the bike ever ran after replacing the switch.



This is from a 1990. In Kerry's photo, it looks like the connection has changed to push on lugs attaching to the fixed contact. Here they are integrated into the contact mount. My moving contact was broken originally. The wires from the harness, in the headlight, were jumpered. I have replaced the moving contact and am in the process of building the handlebar up.

If he reversed the contacts, would the bike start with the clutch out in the normal sequence?

[Kerry]

If he reversed the contacts, would the bike start with the clutch out in the normal sequence?

Yeah, if you mount the contact plate thingie backwards then the wires will be jumpered / connected when the lever is OUT instead of pulled IN.  Which is why you definitely want to be in NEUTRAL when you test this.

See the old Bike won't start with clutch lever pulled in thread.  (Only don't read TOO far.  My embarassing gas station drop is in there somewhere....   )

[cernunos]

On a side note, I remember that none of my old bikes in years gone by had any of the side-stand, clutch-switch, neutral safety-interlocks. Were we older bikers more thoughtful riders or just lucky?? Love the GS and this forum.

C.......

[Kerry]

none of my old bikes in years gone by had any of the side-stand, clutch-switch, neutral safety-interlocks. Were we older bikers more thoughtful riders or just lucky??

Well, somebody got hurt or killed because of the lack of safety devices.  More to the point, somebody probably got sued.  

[cernunos]

Do we need safety devices 'cuz we're stoopid, ignorant or tip-toin' thru the toolips? It just boggles my mind because I can't imagine riding and not paying attention to what you are doing. Maybe a lot of people who ride shouldn't be riding..."ooops, forgot to pull the clutch in, heh heh". Hmmmmm....Love the GS and the forum.

C.......