What can this be ?

[The Buddha]

OK I am semi stumped ...
Working on a vulcan500 ... yea I know, not a GS ...
It will start well when pushed, and run well, very well in fact, and its charging its battery well ...

So, Its got good battery, good connections, good ground and I have tried 2 different batteries, one of which will start the savage easy and crank that bike atleast 20 times if needed ... and even connected it to my truck, and with the truck running ... The starter turns weakly 1 time and the solenoid starts clicking.
Battery is good, for sure. No short no nothing.

So anyone have a definete diagnosis on it.

I have a semi certain theory, and want a confirm or deny.

Cool.
Buddha.

[joshr08]

do you have a different starter solinoid to try on it?

[tt_four]

I would just ask Buddh.............. oooooh..... uh oh, sounds like you're in trouble.

[The Buddha]

do you have a different starter solinoid to try on it?

That is a good idea as well, I prolly could ... Later today, in the mean time tt_four - you shut up, and the rest of y'all keep the good ideas comming.
Cool.
Buddha.

[sergeremi]

I think you should finish the GS till you figure it out.   

[The Buddha]

Good idea ... very good idea ... However why do you think I am not ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[homeyjosey]

do you have a different starter solinoid to try on it?

+1 on the solinoid...if all the electricals seem fine id say its the starter....i have deal with bad starters all the time with my 87 honda crx

[sergeremi]

lol, I've no doubt you're working your magic...  just figured maybe focusing on something else may help lead to a breakthrough.   

Good idea ... very good idea ... However why do you think I am not ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[Dr.Sparkie]

clean and inspect all the the electrical connections from the battery to the starter, including the ground. if theyre good, then its either the solenoid or the starter.
test the starter by using booster cables to power it directly, bypassing the solenoid

[The Buddha]

do you have a different starter solinoid to try on it?

+1 on the solinoid...if all the electricals seem fine id say its the starter....i have deal with bad starters all the time with my 87 honda crx

OK yes tell me more ... Starter pulls full current and does not turn the motor ... yea that can happen ?
Cool.
Buddha.

[platinum_black]

i had a smiliair problem not long ago, replaced the starter solenoid and heypresto she is running like a dream again, so i was gonna suggest solenoid too.

+1

[intergalactic]

Wait.

With either battery the starter pulls full current?

And on one it starts, the other gets zip?

You meausred the current?

do you have a different starter solinoid to try on it?

+1 on the solinoid...if all the electricals seem fine id say its the starter....i have deal with bad starters all the time with my 87 honda crx

OK yes tell me more ... Starter pulls full current and does not turn the motor ... yea that can happen ?
Cool.
Buddha.

[Dr.Sparkie]

if the starter pulls full current through the solenoid and wiring then everything is fine except the starter, or something is stuck in the starter clutch that allows the mtoor to turn but the starter not to.

better just buy a gs500 and sell the vulcan to some kids.

[BeerGarage]

sounds like the starter brushes are bad.  I have not cracked open a vulcan starter.  here is a link to the rebuild of my nissan pathfinder starter if you are interested. 

http://beergarage.com/PathStarter.aspx

this fix cost 30-40 bucks.  a JY starter might be easier.  if you crack open the starter, please let us know how it goes.

[johnny ro]

my 83 vision had these symptoms although I tested it less. I opened up the starter and metal laden oil dribled out. It was destructo inside. I.e. bad motor.  It happens even to the Japanese.

Cheers.

[The Buddha]

Ok I got solenoid out and its fine in the other bike.
That left the starter ... and the fact that this stupid thing ate another starter 2-3 months ago.
So I pulled that one off the shelf and cracked it open ... new looking brushes and coil.

Then, the other side ... broken tooth form the small gear stuck in the big gear and nearly sheared off the pin for the other gear ... DOA.

OK so I yanked the one from the bike.

Booya, bad brushes ... I cant put the good one's brush set in the bad one ... different design (454 starter vs vulcan 500 one) so tommorow very reluctantly I am going to try a gear set swap.
Cool.
Buddha.

[the mole]

Remember the good old days when bikes had kick starters?   

[mister]

Remember the good old days when bikes had kick starters?   

Yeah, and the fun times of trying to start the darn thing like 30 times and zip. And you always kept going cause Next kick it would start. And you'd need a rest or would pause to do some voodoo dance around the bike to make it go. And a buddy would say "let me try" and it would fire up first go  Yeah I miss those days they were real fun times    So much fun sometimes you'd say "screw it," start pushing the bike, jump on, let the clutch out and off you'd go - at last! 

And for even more fun... when your foot slipped off the kicker on the 43rd try and the darn thing swung back up past your shin - cause you're only wearing shorts and flipflops. And you'd think, maybe if I jump real high and come down Hard on it it will go. And, of course, you'd never miss.

Yup. Bring back those good ol' days. Electronic Start is for whimps. Everyone needs to harden up. Geeze, next they makes bikes with heated grips and seats and radios and stuff 

Michael