I got the old bike wont start blues...

[S107]

Hit the starter and nothing happens. Tach is good everything pre starts great but when I hit the starter button-nothing happens. No clicks or sounds or anything. It will start after 2 tries or sometimes 7-8. Past 2 days now. Bike sat out in the rain before. thanks.

 

[Shamus McFeeley]

Can you hear the fuel pump "squeal" when the main switch and kill switch is on? If so, you might (probably) have gotten water somewhere in the right hand controls. You might want to open it up and take a look at your start button and make sure there is no water/corrosion in there. Spray the whole thing out with some contact cleaner just to be sure. If that does not work, then your water intrusion is happening somewhere else before the switch.

 

[S107]

Can you hear the fuel pump "squeal" when the main switch and kill switch is on? If so, you might (probably) have gotten water somewhere in the right hand controls. You might want to open it up and take a look at your start button and make sure there is no water/corrosion in there. Spray the whole thing out with some contact cleaner just to be sure. If that does not work, then your water intrusion is happening somewhere else before the switch.

I do hear the squeal, I will open it up in a few hours. I have a acerbis headlight on it. Full front fairing is gone and had to simply cover wiring with duct tape. But it held all last winter with no issues, thanks for quick reply.

 

[reiobard]

also check the connector at the kick stand safety switch, those have a habit of coming loose.

 

[S107]

Thanks guys, removed starter housing(?) and sprayed with some contact cleaner. When the starter button is pushed theres 2 copper plates inside that touch. On those plates there were some wear and little black spots on each side. Kind of like a TV remote after a few years, the buttons get harder and harder to work. Anyway, I sprayed, waited, then scratched the black off the plates with a knife. Problem solved. Starts like a champ. BTW its 06' (bought in 07) with 48k. Take THAT EVIL DEALERSHIP!

Thanks Again.

 

[Shamus McFeeley]

Thanks guys, removed starter housing(?) and sprayed with some contact cleaner. When the starter button is pushed theres 2 copper plates inside that touch. On those plates there were some wear and little black spots on each side. Kind of like a TV remote after a few years, the buttons get harder and harder to work. Anyway, I sprayed, waited, then scratched the black off the plates with a knife. Problem solved. Starts like a champ. BTW its 06' (bought in 07) with 48k. Take THAT EVIL DEALERSHIP!

Thanks Again.

I had the same thing happen on a CB750. Bought it for $300 because the guy said it didn't run and he thought the motor was "locked up". Turns out the starter contacts were dirty. I cleaned them and it fired right up. A pencil eraser works well on electrical contacts too, a knife can be too abrasive sometimes.