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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: gs500Faddicted on December 26, 2013, 01:12:20 PM

Title: starter issue
Post by: gs500Faddicted on December 26, 2013, 01:12:20 PM
I took the bike out on Friday and rode it to work with no issues turning on and off then went by a friend's house, turned it off, and then back on and took off  for a 40 some mile ride. Ride was awesome - 58F weather. No problems. Made a stop on way home at same friend's house and turned bike off.  When we went to take off again to go grab a bite to eat,  my bike wouldn't start...nothing, no sound, no nothing. Emergency shutoff wasn't on (first thing I checked) looked under seat, no disconnected wires we could see, headlight was on so battery was okay...but no starter power with start button.  We bump started the bike and it rode fine...just can't start now with button.

any ideas? wire somewhere? it started fine the whole time I was riding everytime I would turn it off and on again until the last stop.
Title: Re: starter issue
Post by: Suzuki Stevo on December 26, 2013, 01:29:10 PM
When MC Battery's die it is usually quick, and from one ride to the next with little or no warning, that would be my first guess.
Title: Re: starter issue
Post by: gs500Faddicted on December 26, 2013, 01:35:57 PM
Headlights and everything were working, just not the starter, and the battery is less than a year old...checked the connections on it also and they seemed fine.  will ck the battery with tester this weekend.
Title: Re: starter issue
Post by: Suzuki Stevo on December 26, 2013, 01:44:18 PM
You can have a headlight that works, a starter motor that spins the engine, and still not have enough voltage left for the coils to saturate and make spark at the plug, and 1 year on the battery really doesn't mean a whole lot either, do you have a Voltmeter so you can answer all of the questions that will be coming about your charging system?

(http://home.comcast.net/~stykers/ninja11.jpg)
Title: Re: starter issue
Post by: gs500Faddicted on December 26, 2013, 02:01:45 PM
I work other job tonight, so won't be able to check with volt meter but will this weekend and will let you know what it says...Thanks!!
Title: Re: starter issue
Post by: Suzuki Stevo on December 26, 2013, 02:15:01 PM
If you have your kickstand down while your bike is in gear, it will do what you described also  :dunno_black:
Title: Re: starter issue
Post by: gsJack on December 26, 2013, 02:36:32 PM
Bump the kill switch?
Title: Re: starter issue
Post by: adidasguy on December 26, 2013, 03:30:10 PM
The clutch safety switch is in series with the start button. If safety switch not making contact (you did pull in the clutch lever?) then starter button Wong work but bike can still be bump started.
Try shorting the contacts/wires of the clutch switch and see if the start button works.
Title: Re: starter issue
Post by: gs500Faddicted on January 06, 2014, 07:56:20 AM
Just wanted to update and let you know that the problem was solved!  A former motorcycle mechanic friend of mine came over yesterday, ran through several possible issues, checked voltage, checked solenoid, and finally took cover off of starter switch to test it...well, apparently dirt managed to get down in there, the switch wasn't making contact, when he stuck screwdriver to contact it took right off. We cleaned out the area, added contact spray and works like a charm now.   So before anyone orders a new starter kit, take cover off and clean that area...could be nothing more than dirt in the spring. (which is what mine was!)
Title: Re: starter issue
Post by: Crasm on January 06, 2014, 02:36:56 PM
glad u got it sorted
i was going to say side stand switch could be faulty i had
that on my old er-5 i jst unplugged the switch and made up a bipass wire just to get
me by until the new switch arrived