starter problems

[Sam Harrell]

Tried to crank my '79 XS 1100 after sitting for a couple of weeks...assumed battery dead and tried to charge. Wouldn't crank - sounded a couple of clicks but wouldn't engage starter. Dealer confirmed battery good and put another charge on it. Same thing. Hit the starter, a couple of clicks and nothing. I broke out the kick starter for the first time since the bike was new and got it started...ran rough and backfired more than usual. Bike has been running really smooth and strong until now - other than occasional backfire when cold. Does this sound like a starter or solenoid issue? Fuses checked out ok too. Weather just getting nice and I'm grounded. Any ideas? I hate to just start looking for parts to buy.

[motoman]

Solenoid or bad ground...........maybe both.

[CatatonicBug]

Try shorting across the solenoid leads. If the bike starts with that, the starter is ok, and the solenoid is likely at fault. I had been having similar intermittent issues lately, and ended up taking my solenoid apart and rebuilding it. Now it starts fine every time with just a touch of the button.

Of course, this is assuming you have already checked/cleaned all the grounds and other related elecrical connections.

[DGXSER]

You may also want to check your voltage regulator out. If it is running rough after you get it started, then the solenoid is not the only problem (if it is the issue).

[cywelchjr]

Actually I was thinking along the same lines. The fact that starting it without using the starter and it's running poorly points to the problem being something other than the starter, maybe along the lines of low battery voltage from a non-functional charging system.

[Brent]

Actually I was thinking along the same lines. The fact that starting it without using the starter and it's running poorly points to the problem being something other than the starter, maybe along the lines of low battery voltage from a non-functional charging system.

Good suggestions all.
I like to check for the easiest, cheapest, likely problems first. A dirty corroded connection on the ground wire (either end can cause all kinds of troubles.) This is not uncommon. The metal eye came off the end of mine and I replaced the ground wire.

Sometimes a bad battery can show good voltage, but produce very low cranking amps. Too many extra lights can draw down voltage, even on a properly working charging system (especially at low RPMs)... Could unhook battery, connect to good car battrery with jumper cables, completely isolating bad battery possibility. Much cheaper than buying a new battery just to see.

Good luck wrenching,
Brent in GA

[jetmechmarty]

Starter might be bad. Give it a good whack with a dead blow hammer and see if you get a good crank out of it. It can be rebuilt. I won't refute the other possibilities, just adding another one.

[Brent]

fixed?

Tried to crank my '79 XS 1100 after sitting for a couple of weeks...assumed battery dead and tried to charge. Wouldn't crank - sounded a couple of clicks but wouldn't engage starter. Dealer confirmed battery good and put another charge on it. Same thing. Hit the starter, a couple of clicks and nothing. I broke out the kick starter for the first time since the bike was new and got it started...ran rough and backfired more than usual. Bike has been running really smooth and strong until now - other than occasional backfire when cold. Does this sound like a starter or solenoid issue? Fuses checked out ok too. Weather just getting nice and I'm grounded. Any ideas? I hate to just start looking for parts to buy.

Hi Sam.
did you get starting issues resolved? What was it? How did you get it fixed?
I found a bad connection on plug for two small wwires from the solenooil on mine today. See " what did you do to your bike today thread? (general discussion.) Now good to go

[LoHo]

So, you have a problem in the starter curcuit. Could not the rough running be from sitting?