Starting Problem, Need your Advice...

[jwoell]

So I rebuilt my XS over the last couple years. I had been riding it regularly after that, quite often actually. I gave it back to my step-father recently for him to ride for awhile and now after the winter it won't turn over at all. Brand new battery, lights and all electrical work just as they should. It just won't turn over at all. Is this a problem with the starter or the wiring or is there something I'm missing?? Is there a way to jump it directly to the starter just to check that?? I'm 2 states away so I can't even see it to tell him what to do or where to go. I couldn't even tell you where the starter is without looking at it. Please give me some advice as to what to troubleshoot and what to test or try or where to look. All I can imagine is that it's either a problem with the starter itself or the wiring between that and the battery or the start button. If you have any ideas, please let me know. Thanks guys...

[jetmechmarty]

Kill switch to RUN?

[motoman]

So I rebuilt my XS over the last couple years. I had been riding it regularly after that, quite often actually. I gave it back to my step-father recently for him to ride for awhile and now after the winter it won't turn over at all. Brand new battery, lights and all electrical work just as they should. It just won't turn over at all. Is this a problem with the starter or the wiring or is there something I'm missing?? Is there a way to jump it directly to the starter just to check that?? I'm 2 states away so I can't even see it to tell him what to do or where to go. I couldn't even tell you where the starter is without looking at it. Please give me some advice as to what to troubleshoot and what to test or try or where to look. All I can imagine is that it's either a problem with the starter itself or the wiring between that and the battery or the start button. If you have any ideas, please let me know. Thanks guys...

The last two of the three you mentioned are likely issues since it started and ran fine previously. Also, that right-hand switch assembly grounds thru the bars on 81's.
I would loosen connections at solinoid(under right-side cover), and re-tighten down to make a better connection........still no go........starter button contacts are likely corroded from decades of arcing.
Starters don't suddenly go on the blink on these, just the all important smoke looses its way........and poor grounding that actually has to be fiddled with, not just looked at.
Can jump across the solinoid post with pliers/screw driver, that'll bypass start button for engaging starter.
Easy-peasey fix though...........bike has a faulty positive connection, bad ground or combination of both.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Jwoell,

As Marty said, the Run/Kill switch can be faulty as well as just flicked to the OFF/Kill position? But if in the RUN position and the bike still won't turn over....and I'm assuming that you mean the starter motor doesn't move at all vs. it cranks but won't start....then you may also need to take the switch apart to ensure the wires/contacts aren't corroded.

The bike ran before. However, the starter button can get corrosion inside it and then it won't complete the circuit to ground.



Above is a shot of an XJ panel, but the 81 uses the same ROUND starter solenoid. You can take a jumper wire that is grounded, and then touch the other end to the contact of the small Blue/White wire which would/should activate the starter solenoid and the starter should turn. IF not, then you can take an insulated screwdriver and expose the large wire contacts/bolts and cross those two large bolts, and the starter should turn. IF the starter turns that way, but not with the blue wire grounded, then the solenoid is probably corroded and needs to be cleaned or replaced. There's a tech tip on how to rebuild the starter solenoid.

IF the starter doesn't turn with the large bolts connected, AND you have +12V on the terminal to the battery, I would check the starter side for continuity to ground. Use an Ohmeter and put it on the terminal to the starter motor and other other to frame/ground, you should see some ohms, but not Mega-ohms or OPEN circuit. If open circuit, then the ground wire at the starter to the frame below the carbs has possibly gotten corroded, remove it from the starter as well as the frame contact, clean all and reconnect and then retest.

That should get you going provided the starter motor is otherwise working.

T.C.

[jetmechmarty]

My bike died in Franklin, NC on the way to XS East last year. I was at a traffic light and the bike went dead. I fixed it by cleaning the electrical connector under the fuel tank. The point being, during storage you probably have gained a corroded electrical connection. Clean the connections from the right handlebar to the fuse box.