help with 96 Vulcan 750

[Aerospike]

Hey guys,

Some help is needed here.  I'm helping a friend troubleshoot her dead bike.  Unfortunately I don't have access to the bike, so I'm just suggesting what to do.  Bike quit running a month and half ago.  When she tries to start it, she just gets a click from the side of the bike (starter?).  She had it connected to a car battery because her battery was dead, but the car wasn't running.  She swears she never had to pull the clutch to start the bike if it were in neutral.  Any thoughts?

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Start with the easy stuff. Replace the battery. Also, if it's been sitting for a month and a half, I'd drain the gas, and replace it with fresh stuff. I doubt you'll need to actually disassemble the carbs yet, they probably haven't varnished a lot, but you could run some seafoam through with the new gas. As for starting it in neutral w/ no clutch... what year is the bike, and is she the original owner? If not, the PO could have simply bypassed the clutch safety switch, which is a simple matter of placing a jumper across 2 wires. I would recommend re-enabling the safety switch, but that's a personal thing.

[Aerospike]

it's a 96.  I don't think she's the orignial owner.  Why would anyone bypass the cluctch switch Anyways, my concern is, that she had it runing, then she went into her place to get something and when she got back out it wouldn't start at all.  Why would something like this happen in a matter of few mins?

[hmmmnz]

it defently sounds electrical to me, its making a click so the starter is activating, battery would be a good option, has she tryed to bump start it?? the next thing would be the starter motor, it sounds like the solenoid is engaging but either the battery doesnt have enough life to turn the starter motor 2 the fuse on the starter motor is stuffed or 3 the starter motor is stuffed

[Aerospike]

it had power when it was clicking.  she had the bike connected to her car battery, which is fine.  so how do I narrow dow the two other options?

[hmmmnz]

quite often if the battery is stuffed and you hook up the jumper leads to a car battery and its not going it just sucks the power accross and its still not enough to start it, so try it with the car running, try to bump start it if it still doesnt work. the fuse is usuallty built in to the starter motor(if it even has one some don't)  also it could be the main fuse. ,the startee relay is pulling in, but the fuse is blown so there is no power getting to the starter motor, you'll just have to have a look and see if they are blown or get you meter out/test light and see if power is getting to the starter motor,

[Aerospike]

And getting to the starter motor is just a matter of takin the case off and pulling it out? 

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

sorry, I evidently was really tired when I posted, as I didn't see the year right in your thread title (or did you edit that after I posted? )

Anyway.. I would HIGHLY recommend that you do NOT try to jump start it with a running car. I just know that everything I've ever read recommends against that. I'd say go spend $20 or so on a battery tender Jr., and charge her battery. Or just spend $50 or so and get a new battery. If it works, great. If not, you've narrowed it down, and when you do get the bike running, you've got a new battery, which is always good.

As for bypassing the clutch switch, some people do it because they're too lazy to hold the clutch in, others do it because the switch goes bad and it's easier/cheaper to jumper it than to buy and install a new one.

[DerekNC]

A loose or corroded battery cable will cause the same symptom.

[Aerospike]

Nice guy, I didn't edit the title, it was just too early for you on a Sunday. 

My friend is really low on cash till the end of the summer semester and $50 for a batter is something she can't afford.  I'm really hoping I can fix it without having to replace the starter to help her out. Keep the ideas coming guys.  Than you all very much