Ok my '82 Maxim xj650 recently started having an interesting starting problem.

MY bike sits covered for approximately 13 hours each night and I start her up around 8 a.m. but it won't turn over, the low oil light comes on as I depress the start button, but it won't turn over. So I push start her which is very easy, she then starts right up. If I shut her off, she then starts every time. I have a brand new battery and I also use a battery tender at night, there is plenty of oil (sight glass half full). I ride her to work and 8 hours later she starts right up, it seems to be only when she sits over night. My theory is that it's the neutral safety switch, but I'm not sure. If it turned over and wouldn't start I would suspect the engine or carbs, but I push her 15 feet, pop the clutch and she starts right up. I've checked the wiring and fuse box everything's fine there, there's no visible damage to any of the relevant electral system. Is the neautral switch adjustable? I'm a little stumped, what do y'all think?

You say it does not turn over but is it trying? Can you hear the starter engauging but it does not turn the engine? Or do you get no sound at all when you push the starter button?

No it does not even try. I depress the ignition button, absolutely nothing happens except the low oil light comes on. Then I push her a few feet, pop the clutch and she purrs to life. If I immediatley shut her off and press the ignition button it works fine and she starts right up, it's only that initial start up. Weird, huh?

I am wondering if there is an interlock that won't let the electric starter operate if the oil is low (or if it thinks it's low). Once it has started by pushing it, and you try again with the electric starter, does the oil light come on then?
Just wondering if the sensor for the oil level is acting up.
Jim

Hmmm, that is very strange. Try leaving the switch off and pushing it and dumping the clutch as if you were push starting it. After it spins the engine (switch off) then pull the clutch in, stop the bike and then try the starter.

Let us know what happens.

No Jim the light does not come on after I have push started it then turned it off, then re-started with the ignition button, no light at that point and she starts just fine. Whisperer I will try the switch off push start, switch on then use ignition switch the next time she does this. This morning she started right up and has done that all day, no problems. I'm also leaning towards the fact that there might be a short somewhere in my electrical system that is draining the battery over night. I use a 2 amp tender, but I just started using it again 2 days ago thinking it would help. Nothing Monday & Tuesday, but today she's fine. It would take a little 2 amper 2 days or more to get the battery back up to par. I'll let you know how things develope. Thank you for your continuing help.

I am skeptical about it being the battery being drained as you say that once you start it, then shut it off, it will start with the electric starter immediately - not enough time to charge it from totally flat.
You could check by disconnecting a battery cable, and with everything turned off, just touch the cable to the post. If there is a short there will be a bit of a spark. Or use an ammeter.
Also, if it is the charger charging slowly, you should experience slow turning over somewhere along the way, rather than all or nothing.

Jim

wonder if it might be the starter relay. I had a problem of starter working sometimes and replaced the relay and all was better.
Sean

I finally have the answer! A bad Solenoid!!! It never clicked or gave any indication it was bad, but for as long as I have owned this motorcycle it has occasionally not started. Lately it had gotten a lot worse and finally three days ago it wouldn't turn over at all. I read some stuff and bridged the solenoid posts and voila! At that point I knew it was the solenoid or the starter switch and I felt it wasn't the switch because when I depressed it my red warning light would come on meaning that it was completeing the circuit. Slapped a new noid and and she starts every single time with the faintest touch. Man I love these bikes. Ride safe all!!