1983 1100 Goldwing will not start

Replaced battery, starter, starter selenoid, still bike will not start.
Tries to but sounds like dead battery: two cranks, selonoid clicks several
times then dead. All lights and gauges come on strong. Some say retifier,
some say stater..... Hummmmm??
How do you test a rectifier and what other possibilities can I look for.
Engine is not seized. Get me back on my scoot guys!! Thanks

 

The rectifier and the stator have nothing to do with starting. They have
everything to do with *charging* the battery, but you don't need either of
them to start and run the engine.

Is it a new battery, and did you charge the battery before putting it into
the bike? You do have to charge brand new batteries for best longevity.

If the battery is not the problem, you probably have a loose cable in the
starting circuit. I would go over all the connections, wire brush and
retighten them.

One thing you can do is to measure the voltage across the battery terminals
while pressing the starter button. If the voltage remains high, near 12V,
it is a cable problem or something other than the battery at least. If
the voltage across the battery drops very low, it's the battery.

 

Mark
New battery and was charged prior to installation. When it still wouldn't
start I opted for a new (rebuilt) starter. Still, when I try to start it it
still gives the appearence of a dead and or dying battery. Turns over
slowly maybe twice and then the selenoid starts clicking. Then nothing.
Dave M

 

What is the voltage across the battery (do not probe the cable ends,
probe the lead (Pb) terminals of the battery itself) while cranking?

I am guessing since the battery is new and fully charged that you will
see the full 12V across the battery. That means the voltage is being
dropped elsewhere in the circuit. Probably you have a bad connection,
a common place (no pun intended) is where the negative battery cable is
attached to the engine and/or frame.

I would do voltage drop testing all the way through the starting circuit,
it really can't be anything other than a bad connection if all the parts
are new and known good as you say.

 

A friend of mine had a similar problem with an"82" wing.
Turned out he left the fuel valve on reserve for a time while parked, &
the cylinders were full of fuel,& had the engine "hydro-locked"
We took the spark plugs out,drained the oil,[it was mostly gas] changed
the filter,let the engine dry-out over-nite while charging the battery.
Next morning put in a new set of plugs,& it started,smoked for a while
then cleared.
He only ran it a few hundred miles or so & changed oil & filter again, &
it's been just fine.
Anyway-------something to check!!!
Good luck with it & let us know what you found!
Ron
00nomad/bmwrs