When I go to start my gs500 1990,  the starter spins but the engine does not engage.  I eventually deplete the battery and have to recharge before trying again.

The battery holds a charge...

I have tried to start the bike during the day (warm), and at night (cool).

My question's are IS IT THE STARTER, the battery, or the flywheel.

If it is the starter, could it be the gears... Is it expensive

Anyone have this problem or a possible solution....

thanks

gisluis

Also, what kind of sound does the starter make?  Does it make a clicking sound?  It may be a problem w/ the relays...
Do you have a manual?

ok, your gonna have to pull the shifter off, then the sprocket cover. then the generator cover(order a new gasket first) at this point you can see all the parts that do the job.your starter clutch sits behind the Generator rotor, well, its apart of it really. then there is a short metal tube that holds a dubble gear, and finaly the starter poking through the casings. you can bump the start button and see whats not doing what. but DO NOT START IT.  you will need a catch pan for the oil that will come out ( you needed an oilchange anyway didnt you?) if you need a new starter clutch i blieve i have 2 0f them right now. PM me when you get things torn down, OR get use to push starting in 2nd gear.

it makes a whizzing sound like it is spinning...but does not seem to engage with anything.

Evidentually it does start to only click but I think by that time the battery in near dead...

I will start by ordering a manual today...and the research part...

I have never broken down a motorcycle, is this a rookie project.


How do you start in second gear???

thanks for all your input.

gislus

the jack-shaft may be non funtional (it is the part when the starter is activaed, extends to engage the flywheel)
starting in second gear: (interesting), turn on power shift into neutral, shift up once, oh yeah, make sure you are in a position where you can get some speed to roll it, (hill?) make sure you are on bike, roll it up to a decent speed, (while bike is in 2nd, clutch pulled in)now, as you pop the clutch, raise up off seat, and sit down hard as gear engages as soon as engine fires, PULL CLUCH back in to keep it running. kinda pain in the assish, but until you get starter repaired, may be only way to ride :dunno:

choke fully on, helps a lot

What does the sitting down hard do?  I've heard that if you're push-starting from a run, then when you jump onto the bike, your mass helps to turn the engine and it fires.  But if you're just dropping straight down, then it seems like you're not really pressing the bike forward any extra (unless you're going down a really steep hill).

Sitting down hard on the seat at the same time you let the clutch out helps traction. Otherwise the rear tire may just slide.

The problem is the flywheel bolt snapped and the flywheel came loose.
The gears are pretty strong, so they aren't stripped.
The starter clutch will give you signs it's giving out, like make noises and connecting intermittently.

This is a pretty easy fix.
Get a new gasket and flywheel bolt. Pull off the side case and remove piece of bolt from crank. The bolt the flywheel back on. Be sure to use red loctite on the bolt and torque to spec.
That's a simple explanation. If you have a manual or need help, I'll go into step by step procedure.  

by slaming your butt down on the seat just as you pop the clutch, your giving alittle extra down force on the rear tire so it doesnt just lock and slide, you can use 2nd or 3rd depending on how hard your engine is to start when its cold.


the starter on the GS is constantly engaged to a middle dubble gear as shown here by this link, (someone will have to explain how i post a picture)

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/oem_schematic_view.asp?schem_dept_id=705870&section_dept_id=1&section_dept_name=OEM+%28Stock+Parts%29&dept_type_id=2&model_dept_year=1989&model_dept_mfr=Suzuki&model_dept_id=703240&model_dept_name=GS500EK


the drive gear from the starter pokes from behind and engages the small gear right about where the #1 is pointing on the dubble gear. this dubble gear is held inplace by a short shaft, interconecting between 2 holes between case and cover. the smaller diameter set of teeth on the dubble gear drives the starter clutch gear assembly marked as #3. your promlem is going to be either teeth missing from a gear/s, the short shaft holding the dubble gear(Idler gear) bent/broke or holes holding shaft broke, OR clutch assembly #3 gave up. i discribed how to get to these parts in a post above. here it is again

Quoteok, your gonna have to pull the shifter off, then the sprocket cover. then the generator cover(order a new gasket first) at this point you can see all the parts that do the job.your starter clutch sits behind the Generator rotor, well, its apart of it really. then there is a short metal tube that holds a dubble gear, and finaly the starter poking through the casings. you can bump the start button and see whats not doing what. but DO NOT START IT. you will need a catch pan for the oil that will come out ( you needed an oilchange anyway didnt you?) if you need a new starter clutch i blieve i have 2 0f them right now. PM me when you get things torn down

how do i post a picture damnit, i tryed useing the Img tabwith http address, but all i get in preview is the little box with x in it.

I would be willing to bet on the centrifual clutch bits have worn out and have stopped... clutching.

Any of the other problems, Gen bolt backing off or breaking, any of the start gear train breaking would have caused or would have to be caused  catastrophic failure. Lots of metal bits falling into other metal bits.

It is fairly easy to get at and look.  Pull the shifter off, then the sprocket cover, and then the left engine cover. Be careful as you slide it off. Both the gasket and magnetic gen rotor will make it stick. Watch for the starter gears and shafts to fall out too.  Once you get it open, it should be pretty obvous who the culprit is.

i used www.uploadit.org, and when it uploaded, i copied the url and pasted it between the img tags.

1)I past in the address
2)select it
3)press the "IMG" button and thats it.