Here's a remote diagnosis challenge.  

In a very clumsy newbie attempt to get my bike off the centerstand, I dropped it on it's right hand side.  What I thought was minor cosmetic damage (chrome on the tailpipe) has turned into a mystery as the bike now will not start.

The handlebars landed turned to the left, so is there any possible way a wire or wires were dislodged in some fashion?

Any ideas are welcome, thanks for the help.

Check the kill switch first dude.

what do you mean it doesn't start?......does it crank or it cranks but doesn't want to fire?

try taking out the plugs and cleaning them (that's if the bike cranks)....when you take out the plugs put them on the wires and rest the wireson the cyl head and crank the engine....look if both sprak plugs make a spark....this will also shoot out fuel inside the cyl if there is any

Obvious first, the killswitch is favourite as recomended by kyzee and I always get mine off the stand by sitting on it and shoving her forwards, if on an incline use a little automotive power.

When I did a no-speed drop on my F650, it flooded the engine - I turned the fuel to Off and cranked it a few times to clear it out, and it started.  Dunno if the GS500s are susceptible to that, too.

The kill switch is in the run position, and it might be fuel related, but it won't crank at all - pressing the start switch results in nothing.

Any chance a wire's been disconnected?  I don't see anything out of place from the battery to the switch, but of course the wires are covered for most of that distance.

EDIT: deleted reduntant post

Well lets see, when you press the start button, its like no elect is getting to the starter.
Does the lights, horn, etc work when you turn the key?

If they do you have a problen with either the kill switch or the starter button,
I would check all the wiring from those items, including taking them apart at the handlebars.
If you are not getting anything at all, llights, horn etc, then your issue has to do with the battery/main electrical wiring
Also, try disconnecting the battery and then reconnecting it. It may jsut need the connectors adjusted

More confirmation the switch got tweaked somehow.  Signals, headlight, brake light all OK.  

Likely I'll be waiting 4-5 days for a replacement part if there's no quick reconnect possible... thanks for helping narrow down the problem!

BEFORE ordering a replacement part, make sure that the original part is defective.

You haven't mentioned the state of the other "interlocks" when you try to start the bike:

* Is the clutch lever pulled in?
* Is the bike in Neutral OR is the sidestand fully retracted?[/list:u]If those items check out, then I would suggest working your way through the

bike won't start!!! message thread.

If none of that helps, and you are handy with a schematic, this diagram from the Clymer manual may give you some clues that we can work from:

Nice catch on the sidestand Kerry, I forgot about that one

Quote from: KerryBEFORE ordering a replacement part, make sure that the original part is defective.

You haven't mentioned the state of the other "interlocks" when you try to start the bike]

toph (Is that like Tuff?)

I think Kerry is on to something here.  Is it possible that the switch under the kickstand was damaged?

Steve

Nope.  From his first post, emphasis added:

Quote from: tophIn a very clumsy newbie attempt to get my bike off the centerstand, I dropped it on it's right hand side.

I had same sort of problem when i changed handlebars... try getting a "blinky" tool from your local auto parts store. Now after that take apart each switch in this order and check for electricity. 1. the run/off switch (just take the two screws apart and touch/poke the wire that connects to the run/off switch with the "blinky" took grounded on some part of the bike) 2. the start button (same procedure as before). 3. The clutch switch. If any one of these isn't working, you will have to replace them. However, my problem was with the clutch switch not engaging because it needed an adjustment after getting some trauma trying to get the new handelbars on. Does this make sense?

jon

Oh i forgot, when you do this, you must have the iginition switch on. You should get a blink from the run/off switch as soon you flip it to "RUN." if that checks out, leave it on run, hit the "Start" button and see if that lights up... if it does, then go to the clutch signal switch and see if when you pull the clutch in, you get a blink. If you don't get a blink at one of these points, you need to replace that switch. Hope that helps... i hate having 1/2 instructions. Gets you in a worse position than if you had none at all. Goodluck!

jon

The light bulb in my head just came on.

In all my checks in gettng the bike started, I now realize that I most likely omitted a key activity in the process - having the clutch in!  (this is even more embarassing when it's one of the few starting activities that is exactly the same as starting a car).  Odd that I remembered the sidestand instead.

I'm not kidding about the newbie part in the first post!

I'm at the office right now, but when I get home I'll verify for sure that user error was the root cause of this.  Amazing how if you let a month go between the prerequisites (MSF, reading Proficient Motorcycling) and actually starting to ride you can forget some of the basics.

Thanks for all the posts - I'm glad I found this resource on the net.  If it turns out I did instinctually have the clutch in and it's actually busted, I'll post back and tell you how the diagnostic methods worked out.

( red faced but glad to probably have an extra $75 to spend on gas )

Quote from: tophThe light bulb in my head just came on.

In all my checks in gettng the bike started, I now realize that I most likely omitted a key activity in the process - having the clutch in!  (this is even more embarassing when it's one of the few starting activities that is exactly the same as starting a car).  Odd that I remembered the sidestand instead.

I'm not kidding about the newbie part in the first post!

I'm at the office right now, but when I get home I'll verify for sure that user error was the root cause of this.  Amazing how if you let a month go between the prerequisites (MSF, reading Proficient Motorcycling) and actually starting to ride you can forget some of the basics.

Thanks for all the posts - I'm glad I found this resource on the net.  If it turns out I did instinctually have the clutch in and it's actually busted, I'll post back and tell you how the diagnostic methods worked out.

( red faced but glad to probably have an extra $75 to spend on gas )

Hmmm.....I dont remember you need to have the clutch in to start the bike, unless you are in gear.  :dunno:

Quote from: kyzeeHmmm.....I dont remember you need to have the clutch in to start the bike, unless you are in gear.  :dunno:

Examine the "Clutch switch" in the diagram above.  Until that switch is closed no current will get through the Yellow/Green wire to the starter relay.

The only gear-related switch is the sidestand one.

Kerry solved the mystery.  It was indeed the clutch.

I don't feel as embarrassed after my friend (with a Triumph) said the clutch didn't need to be engaged on his bike to start it, so I guess it's not as standard as I thought.

But this has definitely been an edifying experience.  Despite a quite simple design there is plenty of complexity in my new bike!

Thanks again for all the help and reminders.  I was looking forward to my weekend practice sessions...

Congratulations!  Now, about my mere-fraction-of-$75 fee....  

Just kidding.  Get out there and ride!