Bike won't start

[xvwannabe]

HELP please guys

When i got my bike i was told it needed a battery and a starter solenoid and it would run,i have replaced both of those today and there is still nothing when you hit the starter button,i have tested the starter motor off the bike and that's fine,any ideas please?

Cheers
Al

[robbo]

fuses first,then check the earth or just put a screwdriver over the terminals on the solenoid and see if she turns over

[xvwannabe]

Just checked Robbo still nothing at all,also just noticed that the battery light in the tank panel is flashing all the time despite the new battery

[robbo]

dint you even get a spark off the cellonoid when you crossed terminals
coz if yer dint yer not getting power thru it...what about the iggy switch ..is it fooked

[strima]

What's the model and year of your bike?

[shaggy696969]

Sidestand cut out switch , or clutch cut out switch gone to pot. Try cleaning all the contacts going to them first. The flashing light is the relay on the cut out circuit giving a warning.

[xvwannabe]

It's a 1986 gpz550 a2,the sidestand switch is missing just the wires joined together,i got no sparks when i crossed the terminals on the solenoid

[dubmeister]

Does the gpz not have a volt meter built into the clocks that gives a readout when you push the appropriate button ?

[Grav]

I would take a quick look at the ignition circuit to check for bad/corroded connections. I had a similar problem with mine and had to redo a connector that had corroded terminally.

[minxy]

TR1 went the same. Reworked everything and it turned out to be the starter button.

Tip: Try the simple stuff first!

[madtriker]

TR1 went the same. Reworked everything and it turned out to be the starter button.

Tip: Try the simple stuff first!


If it was just the start button, it would turn over when you cross the terminalls on the solenoid wouldn't it?

[griff2000]

Me and a mate spent ages stripping down a Suzi Intruder in 35 degree heat in Spain after it started to play up, sometimes starting, sometimes just clicking at the solenoid or starter. We checked the earth from the battery, it was solid. Checked the contact block to the frame. Solid. After giving up and calling the local garage in, it turned out to be..............

The sodding earth cable block to the frame.
Hundreds of miles worth of dust and sand had wedged it up but fcuk all contact.

Could be the new solenoid is shagged. It happens.

Look for signs of frayed/broken cable/wires too, possibly shorting out somewhere.

[xvwannabe]

I am getting power to the solenoid now and also at the starter motor wire but still no spin on the motor when i press the button,how do i check the clutch cut out switch?:confused:

[shaggy696969]

If it has a clutch switch it will be a small switch on the base of the clutch lever, try cleaning it or failing that trace where the wire goes, disconnect it and try bridging the connector wires, also recheck where the side stand switch wires have been joined, unless its a good solder joint (and rarely it is) you will find corrosion could cause a bad connection there and that could well be the source of your problems. Just a thought also try rocking the Kill switch back and forth, if there is dirt in there it can fool the starter circuit and again cause your symptoms.

[xvwannabe]

I have just taken the clutch switch off and the bit that slides in and out has snapped off so i pushed it in with a small screwdriver but it made no difference,the sidestand switch wires are joined with bullet connectors and look really clean,if it was the clutch switch causing the problem would pushing it in like i did make it work ie complete the circuit shaggy?sorry for all the questions but i'm useless with electrics:D

[shaggy696969]

In theory yes, it would, but if the bike has been working without the connector, I'd be looking for why it worked, if the switch is broken, then cut the wires near the switch and join them together like with the s/stand switch, as you say the switch is naffed anyway so nothing to loose, did you try rocking the kill switch as well ?

[xvwannabe]

Thats the thing mate the bike was bought as a non runner,supposedly just the solenoid was faulty,i have rocked the kill switch but nowt happened

[shaggy696969]

Ok now as Minxy suggested earlier the start switch is looking suspect. Now you have try'd the easiest its going to get more complicated. If not the start switch then the cut out relay, somewhere there will be a relay which clicks over when all the safety circuit says its ok to do so, so if you got a manual look for safety cut out relay on the diagram and treat this as suspect.

[xvwannabe]

I have just contacted the guy i had the bike from and apparently the guy that had it before him shorted the starter solenoid out and buggered it,so now i'm wondering if this could in turn have damaged something else but what would it be likely have buggered,ie ic unit,regulator or something?

[shaggy696969]

More likely to be the ignition safety circuit relay more than anything if not just dirt/corrosion on start/kill switch. Personally I'd be looking at the ignition safety circuit relay.

[xvwannabe]

Thanks again shaggy,i hope it is that i have just bought an ignition relay and diode on ebay for £5 including postage so as soon as they arrive hopefully it will be up an running

[KELTOI]

I am getting power to the solenoid now and also at the starter motor wire but still no spin on the motor when i press the button,how do i check the clutch cut out switch?:confused:

if your getting power to the solonoid and from there to the starter then run an earth from starter to frame or battery, connect red/white wire and blue/white wire from solonoid together and starter should spin, if not starter or starter clutch is fooked.


if solonoid only has one(red/white) wire, earth it to frame and starter should spin

had a similar problem with an EN500 , turned out the magnets inside the alternator rotor had crumbled and was locking up the starter clutch

[Chris B]

if your getting power to the solonoid and from there to the starter then run an earth from starter to frame or battery, connect red/white wire and blue/white wire from solonoid together and starter should spin, if not starter or starter clutch is fooked.


if solonoid only has one(red/white) wire, earth it to frame and starter should spin

had a similar problem with an EN500 , turned out the magnets inside the alternator rotor had crumbled and was locking up the starter clutch

thats true....i nearly had to fork some pennies out for a new alternator rotor till i nabbed urs :P cheers dad ;)

[xvwannabe]

Do any of you guys know if a starter circuit relay from an er5 will work on my gpz as i know a fair few kawasaki bits are interchangable

[Grav]

Yep, part numbers are the same so give it a whirl.

[xvwannabe]

Cheers Grav,nice one mate

[xvwannabe]

Put another starter circuit relay on today as you suggested shaggy and it worked a treat mate the bike fires up a treat now.Nice one mate.Thanks a lot.:D:thumbsu:

[shaggy696969]

Put another starter circuit relay on today as you suggested shaggy and it worked a treat mate the bike fires up a treat now.Nice one mate.Thanks a lot.:D:thumbsu:

No Probmlem hun , lectrics is a bastard ..... you got there ;)