xj 550, starter button = nothing

I parked my bike (1982 xj 550 seca with 83 engine) last night and when i came out to start it later that night i hit the starter button and i didn't even get a click. I was able to push start it and get home but when i tried to start it this morning nothing would get it started including bridging the solenoid. i took a spark plug out and left it on the head and bridged the starter and didn't see a spark. this is odd to me because nothing significant happened the day before so i don't see why the bike would stop running.
if the solenoid is broken shouldn't the bike start when the solenoid is bridged? also can i replace it with the one from my 1980 xs 400?
Finally why might i not be getting spark?
any help would be great im pretty new to workin on bikes so i can't help but feel like im missing something obvious .

 

i know its simple but make sure the kill switch is set to on, bike is in neutral, kick stand is up, clutch is in. is your tail light coming on when you turn the key to on?

 

Have you looked in the fusebox?

Long before I joined XJBikes, and shortly after acquiring my first XJ, I had the same experience. Upon looking in the fusebox I discovered the reason everybody replaces theirs with a modern blade-type box. The fuse clips simply break all on their own for no apparent reason.

Yes bridging the solenoid should fire the starter; something else is wrong.

 

if it's not a fuse, it isn't too hard to remove the starter and test with a 12v source. i believe the starter grounds to the frame and has only one wire.

you could disconnect the starter "hot" wire and check for power while the solenoid is bridged. or check resistance from the starter "hot" back to the solenoid.

also check resistance between the solenoid and the battery pos. terminal.

you could also check resistance between the starter case and the neg. terminal on the battery.

 

thanks for the help guys but im still getting nothing.

lopezfr2: iv been making sure every thing is in but it's still not working. i even unplugged the sensors and connected the clutch switch so it's always engaged but still not even a sound

bigfits52: luckily enough the previous owner converted the fuses and they are connected well

i used this trouble shooting guide http://xjbikes.blogspot.com/2009/01/how ... rcuit.html however im still getting a little resistance during the #4 test and during 5 and 6 im not getting voltage. not sure why.

 

Check the starter button. You may have to put a small drop of solder on the back of the button to make better contact. I had the same problem with mine. When you push the starter button it grounds to the handle bars. If you try to test the button you need to ground the housing that holds the button. Also check to make sure that the connector (starter solenoid) the small plastic clip is tight. If its loose (mine had a broken clip and would work loose and become intermittent) you can put a zip tie around it to keep it locked together.

 

well today has been extremely frustrating. iv replaced the old switch with a new one..nothing. i replaced the entire killswitch/start pod with one from my old xs (made sure it was grounded, thanks workingonit)...nothing. i checked all the relays and their fine. i checked the entire wire loom for continuity and it all checked out. i even wired all the sensors to read closed...nothing. im at a complete loss. is my tci dead?

im out of ideas and im goin through moto withdraws! im startin to miss my old xs and it's kick start lol

any more ideas guys? or do i now have a very expensive lawn ornament lol

 

My 82 maxim 550 does the same thing once in a while. I push the starter and the neutral light dims slightly but nothing else happens. I think it might be an old starter relay or something because when I boost it off my car it starts no problem. I'm thinking when the battery gets down to 90% charge it's not enough for an old sticky relay.

I haven't gotten around to investigating yet

 

yeah... your solinoid isn't working.

 

i agree, solenoid must be done. you could try tapping it with a wrench, maybe it's just stuck. if you were able to push start it to get it home, your ignition system is fine.

 

NO. If it were the solenoid, it would spin the starter if he jumped across the terminals. I'm getting that's NOT happening?

ajpowers PM me with your email address and I'll send you the starting circuit diagnostics pages from the factory book.