nothing happens when I try to start my bike

[trinacria]

hey guys,  all of my posts have been for silly questions but again im new and inexperienced.

I went to start my gs the other day and the engine turned over for a sec and the battery died. I recharged the battery overnight and when I went to turn it on I got nothing, zero. The engine cut off switch was on, everything seems in order, I even changed the fuse that didnt need changing but it was old so I figured what the heck. Im getting nothing so the problem has to be electrical but everything I checked was good so im confused as whats going on. I even tried to bump it and I get a quick turnover and then nothing      ME

[adidasguy]

In neutral?
Clutch switch OK (you can short it if necessary)?
Side stand up or down?

[trinacria]

CLUTCH SWITCH???

I tried with the kickstand up and down and definatley in neutral. Its why im confused

[Kijona]

CLUTCH SWITCH???

I tried with the kickstand up and down and definatley in neutral. Its why im confused

The clutch switch is the sensor that tells the bike when you have the clutch pulled in. It will not start unless you have the clutch pulled in. If the clutch sensor goes bad it will give you this kind of problem. So will the sidestand switch. I believe they both are just connected with two spade connectors so you could pull them out and tie them together with a piece of wire.

[trinacria]

yeah this clutch switch seems to make sense more than anything else, where is it located?? 

[Kijona]

yeah this clutch switch seems to make sense more than anything else, where is it located?? 

Under the clutch handle. Look for two wires coming from that area. They're usually covered with black plastic.

[trinacria]

hmmmm, they seem ok.  ill keep looking unless im forced to give up and see a professional.  I swear to god if its something silly ill ban :mad:g my head on a concrete wall

[mister]

Battery connection? Battery earth, frame earth? Spark plug leads? Plugs themselves. How the battery level?

Michael

[Big Rich]

What do you mean when you say they "seem" ok? Have you checked them for continuity?

[adidasguy]

When you said you checked the fuse, did you check the "spare fuse" or the one in use - which is under a rubber cover?

[trinacria]

When you said you checked the fuse, did you check the "spare fuse" or the one in use - which is under a rubber cover?

hahaha, I checked the one in use but at first I thought thr spare was the one until i realized it was plugged in rubber

[trinacria]

What do you mean when you say they "seem" ok? Have you checked them for continuity?

I have not and I dont the the tools or the knowledge really. Its definatelry electrical, that much is for sure. You may be right but the day before it was fine except for the battery. when I have some extra cash Ill buy a new battery and be done with it

[BaltimoreGS]

Did you remove the battery to charge it?  If so, I'm with whoever said to check the terminals.

-Jessie

[Funderb]

try touching the clutch switch wires together? its a fail open switch.
Here's a diagram of things that stop the starter from running.

[Dizzledan]

Is that diagram for the gs or just in general? I start my bike up in first all the time.

[adidasguy]

You can start in first IF side stand UP. That's where that dual-diode and the side-stand relay comes into play.
Basically it operates like this: (Side stand UP) OR (In Neutral) = (Side stand relay energized) = (you can start bike)

With your bike on and in a quiet place, you can hear the side stand relay click as you put the side stand up and down (do when on center stand, duh!) and not in neutral.

[J_Walker]

Acutally, Just saying guys, I'm not really into the whole electrical stuff on cars/bikes. But I had this problem, and Forgot to fix my IDLE SCREW after playing with my carbs, thats what killed my battery the first time! But just saying. I don't think it would be that unless you've messed with it. Kinda hard not to, when it just sticks out.. and SCREAMS "Play with me!" lol

[trinacria]

i wanna thank adidasguy and kijona. the problem was the clutch switch, they arent staying in properly so i tied a piece of cloth as a temporary solution. I knew it was something silly     thanks again guys,

[Funderb]

Glad you figured it out!
The two screws that hold the switch in, in my experience, are both easy to strip and happy to vibrate themselves out. So, if they are missing, throw in some new ones with threadlocker!


and yes, the diagram is from the GS500. (suzuki shop manual)
(Notice that the neutral cut off works only in conjunction with the side stand switch and relay.  IE- starting in gear, no problem, with side stand down too? problem...)

[xunedeinx]

Happened to me once...

The black part that holds the buttons twisted a lil so the clutch didn't depress all the way...

15 frantic minutes later, I realized it, and twisted it back