Press starter button, oil light , headlight but NO click

i have a XJ750 45T 1983 model and after the bike sitting for about 3 weeks i got a flat battery. I charged it up and now the lights work and the neautral light comes on fine but when i hit the start button the only thing that happens is the oil light comes on !
Is there a fuse in the starter system somewhere besides the main 20 amp one under the seat that turns everything off? Also how can i test if the starter relay is actaully getting power? I tried a new starter relay and nothing happens.
Please any help would be very appreciated.
Andrew

 

obviously check for nuetral and the clutch switch first.
Take a multimeter and test for power at the starter relay and the fuse.
Also check to see if the battery is at 12volts+. Batteries can die so hard they never charge back up right. It may show charged on a charger but on the bike it really isnt.

 

Welcome to the site !!

Here's a link for the starter relay

At some point check your rear brake shoes !

 

Done everything in those instructions and everything checks out EXCEPT i dont know which relay is the Starter Circuit Cut Off Relay.. does anyone have a picture of one please? their are 3 relays under my seat, im sure one of them has to be it....

 

If it wasn't in neutral it could be the kickstand switch - thats also what happens if you try starting the bike in gear with the kickstand down.

 

A further explanation of the battery misreading possibility above I just ran across on the XJCD:

"It's a funny thing, you can have a battery that reads 12.5 volts on a volt
meter, but still will not light a small light bulb. Volts only tell you part of
the story. The acid in the battery must be good. The Specific Gravity must be
around 1.26 to 1.28 (in a fully charged battery) and you measure this with a
hydrometer. The only trouble is this... there just isn't enough fluid in most
motorcycle battery's to test with a big auto hydrometer. You must use one of the
cheapy, small, 5 ball, pencil types. Oh well, at least they work and between the
two you will have the whole story."

 

well i put the bike in the shop to see if they can find the problem, for those interested in the fix ill post the results here when i get the bike back

 

The Battery needs to be good enough to store 18~20 AMPS.
Bring a fully-charged Battery into AutoZone and get it Tested for holding Cranking AMPS.

Alleviate any trouble an Original Fuse Panel will cause.
REPLACE the Fuse Panel with a Modern one.

Inspect and Test Charging System:
Pull Alternator Cover. Measure Brushes.
Twin Brushes mounted on Platform on the Inside of Alt. Cover need to be within specs.

10mm -or- Less = Replace Brushes.

Alt. Output: (Measure at Battery Posts)

+14.2 -to- +14.5 Volts -- Steady -- w/ Eng @ 2000 rpm's -or- greater.

::: Below 14.2 N.G. -- System not charging. Not enough current to run bike.
::: Above 14.8 MAX -- System OVER-charging. Not regulated. May damage components and Boil-over Battery.

Start Test:
Ign ON
Neutral Light ON
Push Start Button -- Nothing Happens.

Remove Side Cover.
Use Screwdriver to "Jumper" High-Amp connections on Starter Solenoid.
Starter cranks Engine.
Yes? Test Switch for Power and Functioning.

 

I'm going with kickstand relay first. Simple....put bike on center stand. Kickstand UP, reach around with a small screwdriver and catch the lip of the plunger tip. Pull it the rest of the way forward. Try to start it now. Bet it starts if that's the issue. I kept a small right-angle screwdriver in my pocket for about a year and used it each time I got on the bike. I learned the feel for where it was, and with long arms, could get on the bike, put the stand up, reach down and pull the plunger the rest of the way out, and go ride. Eventually, I did replace the switch, but that was after I removed and bypassed it for awhile, though. When a local bike business owner got killed cuz his kickstand was down when going around a curve, I decided to get the switch re-installed.

"Took it to the shop" - Already?? Why? You were already here. Hope we don't hear about the big bills and repairs from yet another "Little Shop of Horrors".

Dave F

 

Hey Vetmanxj750,

what was the resolution to your problem, My XJ750RL is doing the same thing.

Cheers, John

 

mine does that every once in a while. the first time it did i was stumped for about an hour, til i figured out that the starter solenoid had come unplugged. check the simple stuff.