Starter issue...

[nisus1]

man, i didn't need this.  I drove into D.C. with a group of buddies, and when we got to our destination i turned my bike off.  I decided to move my bike, and when i tried to start it, the starter just spun.  It sounds like the starter is working properly, just not touching anything.  My friend said solenoid, but i have no clue.

Need help.

Thanx

[starwalt]

...when i tried to start it, the starter just spun.  It sounds like the starter is working properly, just not touching anything.  My friend said solenoid, but i have no clue.

The GS has no mechnical "solenoid" like a car.
If the starter actually is spinning, meaning you can hear it, either the starter motor is not engaging the starter gear/clutch assembly OR the clutch is not grabbing the crankshaft.

The only way to check the mesh of the starter motor and gear/clutch assembly is on the left side under the case cover. Check out this FAQ here on  GSTwin.com for some pictures and functionality. You will need to drain the oil or lean the bike over on the right side long enough for it to migrate to the right side.

If your clutch mechanism has some broken springs in it. You've got some serious wrenching to do. The springs in the clutch force the starter gear to grab the crankshaft.

If you are really lucky, you may be able to put the bike in gear, roll the engine over a little, take it out of gear, and the gear/clutch may grab.

Let us know.

[nisus1]

k, had to bring this back up, because i haven't had a chance to check it out yet.  I've been on vacation and <cough> my buddy let me borrow his ex500.  So moving on... starter issue is the same but i wanted to add the fact that when i push started the bike to get home that night that the electronics were acting all funny as well.  Lights would dim and the gauge lights would go out completely while the bike was moving... as you slow down it would gradually brighten.

So besides that... what exactly does the solenoid on our bikes do?  My bike is an '89, do all years have them?  Also what exactly does the rectifier do?

Thanx again

[John Bates]

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that your battery is a goner.

I suggest you have someone perform a load test on it to see how good it is before you do anything else.

[nisus1]

i'll try jumping it as soon as i get home... would that account for the starter just spinning?  It doesn't do the "click"... it just whizzz's away.

[nisus1]

jump didn't do anything... looks like i'll be breaking it down and checking the starter clutch...    that still doesn't account for the electrical issue though.