Starter only works sometimes

Most of the time when I push the starter it just clicks but won't turn over. I push it again and again and again, eventually it fires and if it's warm the bike starts on the first shot. Battery has lots of power. I've tried two different starters and both do the same thing.

 

Could be a bad solenoid or contacts in the "start" button. Here's one of many links with some trouble shooting info.....

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14478.html

 

When I push the starter button the starter clicks every time. It just won't turn over. It takes about a hundred clicks before the starter decides to kick in and actually engages and starts the engine.

Could it just be a weak starter?

 

Could be, but more likely to be the starter relay. You can check by pulling the right side cover, the relay is right behind the battery. Use a piece of heavy metal to jump the two posts that have the heavy wire on them. If it cranks reliably then you know it's the relay.

Make sure bike is in neutral and key of before jumping the relay.

 

a device that goes "click" is called a "solenoid", its job description is a "starter relay". people use the terms interchangeably. both Nick and MiCarl are talking about the same thing.
all that a "starter button" does is make a solenoid go "click"
a mere fact that you hear a click means that a "battery>starter button>solenoid>battery" circuit is OK.
going "click", solenoid closes a separate "battery>solenoid>starter motor>battery" circuit.
if you bypass the solenoid, as MiCarl described, and starter motor turns, solenoid will need to be replaced.
but more likely then not, it’s the brushes of your starter motor(s) that need to be replaced. you can find a kit for around 30 bucks. be gentle with them, brushes a very brittle

 

I have another stator but it was at one point submerged in water for about a week (don't ask). I'll give that a try before I go buy one.

Thanks everyone.

 

OK, so I changed the brushes and it does exactly the same click.

 

Any suggestions?