Hi all. Thanks in advance for any advice you have. I just bought a GS450L with the intention of fixing it up a bit -- the electric seemed to work fine, but the carbuerators were off. I've cleaned the carbs, tested the battery, and double checked my installation to make sure everything's where it needs to be. Here's the problem: When I push the ignition switch, the solenoid clicks, but nothing else happens. I'd originally thought it was due to a frayed wire running from the solenoid (negative) to the starter motor -- but I replaced that today and no dice. Same result. The wire needed replacing anyway, but what would allow the solenoid to click but the starter not to turn over? Thanks again. Christian
Tried jumping off of my car battery -- no dice. Starter does not crank, but spins a bit -- ONLY when contact is broken. This strikes me as wierd -- why would the starter try to turn when the current is ending? Brushes are in good contact with the commutator -- commutator is clean. Starter cranks when I use my car battery. Wiped it out, but there was no noticeable corrosion. Looks clean. Yes. Any more ideas? Thanks for your help-- this is my first bike. Maybe I should have gotten one with fewer problems!
Yep, I've got a suggestion: How about being consistent with your story? Well, not consistent maybe, but there is a tiny bit of information missing somewhere. We are within a RCH of identifying the problem. Be a little more specific (and careful) with your next reply and you will get the right answer.
OK. I can see where that was vague: When I try to jump the entire motorcycle off of the car battery, it doesn't start the motorcycle. When I take the starter out of the motorcycle, and connect the battery from the car directly to it, it cranks the starter. I tried roll starting the bike (again, my first bike, I'm just learning about all of this), and it locked up the back wheel. I think the engine is frozen up? My next step is to take out the spark plugs and see what's going on in there... I'm guessing I might see corrosion or something... I have the sinking feeling that this bike was stored with the carbs off, and enough moisture crept in there to cause problems. I guess I might be taking apart the engine... I guess I needed a project. I appreciate everyone's patience. I'm new to the stuff. Does it sound like the engine is frozen up? Thanks again for the patience.
What gear did you try and bump-start it in? If first, I'm not surprised the back wheel locked. Try second, or even third. How do you know? Were the carbs off when you bought it? I really, really doubt the engine needs rebuilding, unless it has been,. as you say, stored for a long time with carbs off and also the plugs out.
OK, you get a some slack for not being a mechanic, but this is getting a little old. EXACTLY how doesn't it start? Doesn't turn over at all? Turns over but doesn't fire? Turns a bit and then stops? The DETAILS are important !!!!! OK, so the starter is probably good. Maybe. That would match some of the other clues. Might not be as bad a problem as you think though. Could be that fuel has leaked into a cylinder and you have hydraulic lock. Remove the plugs and then try to turn it over (stand clear of the plug holes as fuel or oil might come flying out.......or pieces of a valve). Try this first with the kill switch OFF; that's the safest way to go but on some models the kill switch kills the starter too. If no-go, try pushing again in 3rd. gear with plugs out. Once again, the DETAILS of what happens when you do this are important.......especially any weird noises! If your theory is right, help from here is pretty much done. Although one poster would happily compose a 50 page message trying to tell you how to rebuild the engine, explaining not only how but WHY each step is done the way it is...........and some of it would even be right! ;-)
Frozen pistons explain why you might hear the starter make a "grrrrr" noise I really appreciate all the help I'm getting from everyone here. This is exactly what seems to be happening. When I try to start the motorcycle, there's a click from the solenoid, the starter makes negligible noise, and when I release the starter button, the starrer "whirs". After opening the engine on the clutch side, I can see that the starter gear tries to turn the engine over, fails, and then releases, spinning in the opposite direction -- there's that noise you're talking about. Hah! Yes. Tis my "keep busy" project. My sanity is worth burying myself in something I've never understood. At the end of it, maybe I'll be handing out advice on Usenet groups! I'm going to work on this bike until I establish that it simply won't run -- and I think it will run. OK. I'm going to try this series first. When you say "some" penetrating oil, what sort of quantity is appropriate? Should I see oil sitting in there, or do I mist it? OK -- that makes sense. As long as the bike is in 5th gear, turning the wheel will move the pistons? Thanks again.
