starter button won't work

[vwlord]

My 1979 xs1100 sf start button won't work. The bike had been starting/running great for the last few years. I installed a iPhone charger a few months ago and after a long trip i forgot to unplug my charger which drained my battery. I jumped the bike from my truck and it started up. After I stopped it to see if it charged the battery it was still dead. The problem is now the starter button won't work yet all lights work. I put a screwdriver between the two terminals on the starter solenoid and it cranks. Any suggestions? Thanks

[MPittma100]

Starter Button

Make sure that the handlebar kill switch is in the on/run position. Remove and clean your ground connections - battery cable to chassis and engine case to chassis. If it still does not start, take the starter button switch apart and make sure that the contacts are clean. This switch simply supplies a ground through the handlebar, same as horn button.

Mike

[DGXSER]

Here is a diagram of the starting circuit of the XS11.



On the 78-79 models the starter button ground was through the switch to the handlebars. On the 80-81 models, Yami added a ground wire to the harness. I suspect because they also introduced the MNS that year, and with the painted bars needed the ground.

My best suggestion is to follow the path of the electrons from the battery onward till you find where they stop flowing.

[trbig]

Does the XS have the safety switch on the clutch handle like the XJ? Have you tried putting it in neutral before trying to start?

And as much as I hate to admit it, I've tried chasing down starter problems just to find I'd bumped the kill switch as Mike pointed out.

[natemoen]

Does the XS have the safety switch on the clutch handle like the XJ? Have you tried putting it in neutral before trying to start?

And as much as I hate to admit it, I've tried chasing down starter problems just to find I'd bumped the kill switch as Mike pointed out.

XS does not have the safety interlocks like the XJ.

[motoman]

XS does not have the safety interlocks like the XJ.

Your slippin' Nate......twice, (hinged rear fender) and clutch safety switch. ... yes, the 81's have the clutch safety switch, Standard and Specials.

Other than that, you've thrown out good correct responses.

[vwlord]

starter

All the fuses are good and I installed a new starter solenoid. The thing that is weird is that the bike worked fine for years and I drive it weekly. All I did was jump the battery. I cleaned all the connections in the start/stop/starter switch area and still nothing. This is frustrating!!

[rdmcguy]

starter button

I had a similar thing a while back,
Found the solution where the handlebar switch plugs into the harness
Cleaned it up and cable tied it together problem solved!

[vwlord]

starter

WTF. I was checking the ignition fuse with a meter while pushing the start button and it fired up. I just touched the meter to the top of the fuse connector. I drove down the road and it died (thank god I was up a hill and coasted home). The battery was still dead, and when I jumped it the starter button didn't work until I touched it with the meter. New fuse box?

[LoHo]

New fuse box, upgraded to bayonet fuses. It will probably solve the problem, and if not, is still a needed upgrade.

[Schming]

WTF. I was checking the ignition fuse with a meter while pushing the start button and it fired up. I just touched the meter to the top of the fuse connector. I drove down the road and it died (thank god I was up a hill and coasted home). The battery was still dead, and when I jumped it the starter button didn't work until I touched it with the meter. New fuse box?

These bikes will not run with a discharged battery. If you don't have at least 11 volts minimum at the battery terminals the TCI won't fire correctly or at all.

[LoHo]

These bikes act funny with a dead or dying battery. Some things stop working, others work somewhat, some things work fine. When my battery starts to go, my left blinker stops working while the right works fine. And some batteries will fail while still showing 12v but will drop to 8v or 9v when a load is applied...surface charge, I think they call it. A dying battery can make you chase your tail pointlessly.

[DGXSER]

If you still have the factory fuse box, yes, definitely upgrade. The connectors the fuses sit in get weak and brittle. Making intermittent or poor connection. Next time you check for voltage, check at the wire side of the connector that is plugged onto the fuse box. Power will get to the fuse, and be at the other end of the fuse, but not get through the connector to the wire.

[vwlord]

Well it was the fuse box. Gotta give a big shout out to TC for saving my bike. Not only did it fix the start button problem but it also improved the bikes performance, especially the lights. It seems to run better but it could just be in my head. I moved to Monterey Ca a few months ago for school and have been riding down hwy 1 around Big Sur/San Luis Obispo, but I miss riding in the California foothills. Thanks everyone for your help with my problem/s. I have been saving up for the last 3+ years to upgrade to my dream bike, a 2004 Yamaha FJR which I will be getting here in couple of weeks. I'm going to keep and ride this amazing XS, I cherish my first bike. Again thanks, I'm sure to run into more problems.

[DiverDown]

On the 78-79 models the starter button ground was through the switch to the handlebars. On the 80-81 models, Yami added a ground wire to the harness. I suspect because they also introduced the MNS that year, and with the painted bars needed the ground.

My best suggestion is to follow the path of the electrons from the battery onward till you find where they stop flowing.

Hello everyone. New guy/first post...

I have a 1980G, and I just put new handlebars on it, and now it won't start. The old one's were chrome, these are painted. Any chance this might be the problem?