push starter button and...nothing

[John]

The starter button actually has a ground wire within the switch housing. You may be losing a good ground there, but if the starter is spinning slowly, try removing the spark plugs and cranking it over. It should spin over easily, if not, then I would suspect the starter. If it tests good then try jumping the battery lugs on the solenoid with a heavy gauge jumper wire or just use a screwdriver to short across the lugs. If it spins faster, then it is possible that the contacts inside the solenoid are corroded or burned. A weak battery can cause arcing across the contacts and will burn the contacts so less current can flow across them.

[pete_s]

Your symptom is of a weak battery but why is the question. With less than 12v before your trip and recharge you either have a weak cell/ defective battery or a regulator diode leak, wiring short, or maybe the fuse block touching ground.

Try disconnecting the battery plus or minus for a few days and see if it goes down on it's own, if it do'es not than it is the bike and you need a amp meter to help trace the drain or short down.

I run 20-50wt with a glass mat battery and it cranks fine on my 78 XS.

[oldyam80sg]

I put the bike on a trickle charger yesterday at approximately 445pm.Before i left my Moms house, it was 80 % charged (left at 6pm).My Mom called me at work today and told me at 11 am it finally turned to green.It took since yesterday at 6 pm to get it from 80% to 100 % charged.I think that the battery is the problem.I just removed the battery from the bike and put the charger on it again.I will check the voltage tomorrow night and get it load tested at AutoZone.

[oldyam80sg]

My boss at work tells me to disconnect the positive cable and leave the negative connected to the battery.Hook a test light to the positive cable and if the light lights then something is draining the battery.Took a voltage reading today 12.81 volts.Hit starter and bike instantly started.I ordered a new rectifier from Geezer and will have the battery load tested on Saturday.

[oldyam80sg]

I took the battery off the charger today and the bike started.I installed the new rectifier that i purchased from Geezer and battery voltage at 2500 rpm is 15.05.Geezer said that his units are plug and play and that is 100 % true.Beautiful looking rectifier and he got it to me quick.Tomorrow I'm going to Auto Zone to get a battery cable so i can do Randy's extra ground mod.

[oldyam80sg]

Yesterday i went to start the bike.Push button and nothing again.Battery is on the charger.Should i check to see the starters condition?Gas dripped from the carbs back in March and was curious if that would have gotten into the connections.Battery is a PowerMax glass mat battery,new as of this year.

[XSPastor]

Hmmmm... If the battery is dead, then you may have some sort of a key-off drain on the battery. If the battery is still fully charged, that only leaves the solenoid, ignition switch, and wiring. Does it turn over slowly or not at all? Will it start if you jump directly to the solenoid?

[oldyam80sg]

After pushing the switch and nothing happening,i checked the battery voltage with a multimeter.Battery voltage was 11.53 volts.I charged the battery on my trickle charger and in 1 hours time, charger went to green.I took another reading with the charger connected.Read 12.35 volts.I pushed switch with charger disconnected and the bike started instantly.I removed the cover to the starter and the connections were tight.I did not jump any wires.Could the solenoid be bad?Is that available anymore?I took the connection that the solenoid connects to(2 prong plug) and packed that with dielectric grease after i cleaned the insides.Bike starts for now.

[bikerphil]

If the battery read 11.5V after sitting for a week, either there is a current drain or the battery is NFG.

[oldyam80sg]

Battery voltage was read after i hit the starter button a dozen times.Wouldn't that draw some volts.

[cywelchjr]

Battery voltage was read after i hit the starter button a dozen times.Wouldn't that draw some volts.

It shouldn't have taken anything significant. The fact that it started right up after charging says there is a problem with the battery or there is a drain when off. Did you do that check your boss suggested, it's a good test for a drain. If a light placed in series with the battery lights with the bike off there is something wrong. If it does, first try pulling each fuse and see if you get a difference, if you do, thats the circuit with a problem, if not it's somewhere else (I know, a lot of help). I've not done the recommended steps on one of our bikes, but it's a general automotive troubleshooting technique that I have used on other vehicles. Sometimes you can find that even though the light comes on that nothing is wrong if there is a device that is supposed to be active (would not expect that on one of these bikes unless you have a radio that requires a constant hot line).

[oldyam80sg]

First time i tried the glass mat type battery and had this problem.I tried the test my boss suggested but the light did not illuminate.I have a warranty on the battery so i might use it.Will report back to see what happens.

[oldyam80sg]

I ordered 2 batteries from Dennis Kirk,one for my XS and one for my ZRX.When i bought the ZRX in 2006 it still has the original battery since 1999!Almost 8 years on 1 battery.I think it might be time for a new one!

[oldyam80sg]

Started the bike today.Have had the Battery Tender maintaining the battery.Bike started instantly and i shut it off and removed the ground from the frame to the middle drive.Cleaned it and sprayed battery terminal protector on both surfaces.I removed the Battery Tender and will check in a week to see if i corrected my problem.

[oldyam80sg]

Battery voltage today is 12.53 after it has been sitting for 3 days without the charger being connected.I think that is enough to start it.I will check tomorrow.Second snowfall to hit the ground today so that kind of ruined my run around the block.Waiting on starter and solenoid to come in.Also looking at mods that i can do this winter.The guy that wanted to but the bike from me 2 years ago called yesterday and asked if i would sell it to him.NO was my reply.