my gs500 has been sitting down for the past 4 years...i cleaned out the tank (kreem) and started it up and added inline fuel filters
the first day it started and the idle was bad but the bike took me around the block a couple of times
the second day the petcock was leaking by the hose, Changed both hose and now the bike won't start.
When i try to start i just hear a click and that's all ....
any ideas? bad starter maybe? i have recharged a brand new battery 2 twice
Bad connections somewhere or bad solenoid. Don't forget the interlocks, neutral, sidestand, clutch. After 4 years it's not surprizing.
Quote from: cheetahman on June 06, 2012, 10:53:03 AM
Bad connections somewhere or bad solenoid. Don't forget the interlocks, neutral, sidestand, clutch. After 4 years it's not surprizing.
Thanks bro, any chance you would know where these parts are located?
never mind I found the FSM ...just don't know where to start...I might start at the clutch switch
Hmmm. Can you determine where the "click" sound is coming from? The only candidate I can think of is the starter solenoid.
If the solenoid is indeed "clicking" then the whole series of interlocks is probably OK. Once that solenoid clicks, there is a direct connection between the battery and the starter motor, and the engine should turn over unless the battery has a bad connection or doesn't have enough "juice" to turn the motor ... or there is an internal problem that prevents the crankshaft from turning.
Are you sure the battery is OK? The first thing I would try is to hook up a car battery with jumper cables. You might be surprised at how "eagerly" the bike will want to start that way (assuming everything else is OK).
There is a (very remote!) chance that your bike has "goat's syndrome", which is a broken alternator magnet that has gotten lodged such that the crankshaft can't turn. If that's the case, you will see smoke from electrical parts if you hold the starter button down too long. A better way to test for this is to shift the bike into a higher gear and see if you can turn the rear wheel with the clutch engaged. If it turns OK, no "goat's".
Quote from: randy0211 on June 06, 2012, 11:19:39 AM
Quote from: cheetahman on June 06, 2012, 10:53:03 AM
Bad connections somewhere or bad solenoid. Don't forget the interlocks, neutral, sidestand, clutch. After 4 years it's not surprizing.
Thanks bro, any chance you would know where these parts are located?
I'd buy a service manual such as a Haynes or a Clymer. It's the best investment you'll make. I am getting one for my Birthday which was yesterday. Sent the wife the Amazon link, and she ordered it.
Quote from: Kerry on June 06, 2012, 12:14:57 PM
Hmmm. Can you determine where the "click" sound is coming from? The only candidate I can think of is the starter solenoid.
If the solenoid is indeed "clicking" then the whole series of interlocks is probably OK. Once that solenoid clicks, there is a direct connection between the battery and the starter motor, and the engine should turn over unless the battery has a bad connection or doesn't have enough "juice" to turn the motor ... or there is an internal problem that prevents the crankshaft from turning.
Are you sure the battery is OK? The first thing I would try is to hook up a car battery with jumper cables. You might be surprised at how "eagerly" the bike will want to start that way (assuming everything else is OK).
There is a (very remote!) chance that your bike has "goat's syndrome", which is a broken alternator magnet that has gotten lodged such that the crankshaft can't turn. If that's the case, you will see smoke from electrical parts if you hold the starter button down too long. A better way to test for this is to shift the bike into a higher gear and see if you can turn the rear wheel with the clutch engaged. If it turns OK, no "goat's".
After spending 5 hours online, I was going to to exactly everything mentioned except the goat :) I wish I would of read this earlier. It clicks in the back by the battery and a little whining.spinning from the motor area and then the nuetral light, oil light, and headlights die down a lot.
The battery is about 2 weeks old, and the charger (1.5) said it is ok (green after charging) I have a good feeling its the battery.
I greatly appreciate your time and help
Quote from: jestercinti on June 06, 2012, 03:00:53 PM
Quote from: randy0211 on June 06, 2012, 11:19:39 AM
Quote from: cheetahman on June 06, 2012, 10:53:03 AM
Bad connections somewhere or bad solenoid. Don't forget the interlocks, neutral, sidestand, clutch. After 4 years it's not surprizing.
Thanks bro, any chance you would know where these parts are located?
I'd buy a service manual such as a Haynes or a Clymer. It's the best investment you'll make. I am getting one for my Birthday which was yesterday. Sent the wife the Amazon link, and she ordered it.
Still have the link? and is it a digital copy? I love the control-find function with Pdfs
I had a similar problem. Friend gave me a GS that hadn't been started in 9 years.
I could crank it over some times, other times -- click.
Kooky enough, it turn out that the bike actually grounds itself to the frame at
what looked to be the starter relay (as I recall, this was a couple of months ago
I had this problem).
When I popped it out of the rubber socket it was in, I noticed there was rust
between it and the frame. Took a piece of sand paper to it, then cleaned it with
WD40 and Windex to expose the bare metal.
Popped it back into the socket -- intermittent clicks went away. Starts every time.
TJ