starter relay question, was "starter won't stop&

[scirocco93210]

Is the black electrical cable from the starter relay to the starter motor supposed to be energized all the time or only when the starter button is pressed?

[John Bates]

Only when the starter button is pressed.

[The Buddha]

My virago did this few weeks ago ... turns out it was this freaking crapola contraption called a diode (I call it a blind plug) ... its a bunch of wires, that plug into the wiring harness and in ~3 inches they end in a rubber blind plug. On top os=f that rubber plug there is a rubber sleeve of sorts. Mine was loose and the rubber plug was worn on 1 side and the wire that was encased was contacting with metal and activating the oil light and the starter. I burnt the starter but everythign else suprisingly was fine. I also ended up tearing the hole in the case where the starter nose sits (different mechanism than a GS) but the bendix type clutch it has, the second stage engagement device (solenoid - a real one not the switch type one the GS has) etc helped minimise the freaking thing from turning into a pile of shredded metal. I machined the starter nose a shade and fit a oil light bushing in the case and slapped it all back together. Seems to have worked AFAIK after ~700 miles.
Cool.
Srinath.