CCCrrraaassshh!!Dead starter?

[ollie357]

O.K. my wheelie gone awry incident has given me the perfect excuse to start working on some mods. First though, a little prob:
My bike wont start. I mean, no starter turning over, no clicking, nothing, nada, zip, no sound. However, the lights and horn all work fine. Left side of handle bar is all f%&ked, as in bent. so is the clutch lever. Its gotta be a break in the circuit somewhere, right? Oh, I ordered a new left side engine cover, since it was really bashed. The stator looked o.k. though. I havent tested it for continuity yet but will soon. Being lazy, I thought I'd just ask any of you gurus out here about the stepwise checks I should take to isolate the prob. i.e; would a broken switch in the clutch lever kill the circuit, batt. having not enough power for ignition system. etc?
in the meantime, I'm gonna poke and prod some more.

[Kerry]

You could try looking at the clutch engagement switch first, I guess.



If you just want to short circuit it, try pulling the 2 connectors downward a LITTLE bit, and then lay a screwdriver or piece of metal across the exposed tabs.  Or you could pull the connectors all the way off and touch the (hooded) metal parts together somehow.



If you can't get continuity, remove the two screws and inspect the physical switch, to see if the plastic part broke or something.

If this switch isn't the problem, and you're good with a wiring diagram, try tracing through either this one or this one.

PS - I just realized that you could make a poor man's anti-theft device by pulling one of those wires from the clutch engagement safety switch!  Easy to "set", easy to "reset".  

EDIT: Changed links from sisna.com to bbburma.net

[JLKasper]

You could try looking at the clutch engagement switch first, I guess...

...PS - I just realized that you could make a poor man's anti-theft device by pulling one of those wires from the clutch engagement safety switch!  Easy to "set", easy to "reset".  

Kerry, once again you have proven your mettle as the most helpful member of this board.  The anti-theft idea is brilliant!  

 Edit: Let it be known that my 500th post was dedicated to paying a compliment to a fellow board member.  

[yamahonkawazuki]

i can almost say, that what you are describing is a prob with the switch. you can also, per kerry's brilliant photos, remove the two wires, and insert a paperclip

[ollie357]

Thanks Kerry. I'll check that out first thing. Ordered a Suburban-Machinery type II handle bar in the meantime!

[ollie357]

Kerry, You DA MAN!   I jumped the clutch switch with some wire and she started right up. I quickly killed the engine since the stator wasn't seated securely. I'm waiting for that new side cover.

[Kerry]

Kerry, You DA MAN!  I jumped the clutch switch with some wire and she started right up.

Hey, it wasn't MY idea; YOU came up with the potential diagnosis!  (See quote below. )

[...] I thought I'd just ask [...] about the stepwise checks I should take to isolate the prob. i.e; would a broken switch in the clutch lever kill the circuit[...]

I just offered an idea or two for testing your hypothesis....  

[Turkina]

My '96 doesn't have the nice connectors like that!  I bought a new contact, and tried to get my clutch perch switch working again yesterday... no go So I guess I do without

Anyways, if you want to get a little more involved and get rid of the switch entirely, trace the green and yellow wires back into the headlight shell.  They plug into the wiring harness with snap connectors, so all you need to do is unplug the switch wires and connect the two ends inside the headlight shell

[ollie357]

True on that, BUT, your picture was clear enough that it sped up my diagnosis. Plus, the anti-theft switch idea is rather neat.