Starter Motor? Solenoid? Or Bad wire connection??

[Gary1992]

Hi All, this is my first post so bear with me.  I have a '96 GS500E project bike and I had it running a few months ago but after some work with miscellaneous parts and reassembly I'm getting the following problem:  The bike has juice and will light up when I turn it on, but the engine wont turn over when I press the starter. I can't tell whether or not the solenoid is bad, or the starter motor is seized up or whats going on.

Here is a link to see /hear what happens when I try to start while hooked up to jumper cables.

https://youtu.be/9b5nVE9JXtE

[sledge]

The fact the lights are dimming big time tells me there is a big volt drop and a lot of current going somewhere!!!

Are you sure the engine isn't partially seized?

What other work have you done?

Take the starter motor out, hold it in a vice, splash it across the battery with jump leads. If it spins OK you need to get the LH cover off and see what's going on with the sprag clutch and drive.

[Gary1992]

The fact the lights are dimming big time tells me there is a big volt drop and a lot of current going somewhere!!!

Are you sure the engine isn't partially seized?

What other work have you done?

Take the starter motor out, hold it in a vice, splash it across the battery with jump leads. If it spins OK you need to get the LH cover off and see what's going on with the sprag clutch and drive.

Only other work I've done with the engine was remove the carburetor to get it working again because the butterfly vales were stuck shut, haven't even opened the engine case; I've done a few minor things with the brakes, throttle, and instrument cluster but that's it which Is why I'm so thrown off!

What really confuses me is why it will fire 1 or 2 times and then go back to just clicking...

[sledge]

I am assuming the battery is charged and holding it!

[Gary1992]

I am assuming the battery is charged and holding it!

That's correct, but if it weren't (for any reason), wouldn't having the car hooked up to it as a jump compensate for the lack of charge?

[Big Rich]

Sounds like a bad / weak ground wire between the battery & engine.

[Gary1992]

I got down to the starter motor and the connection was all rusty and corroded so I cleaned it up and everything started working again!

Thanks for your help guys!