New rider, first bike, not starting. Help!

So about a month ago I bought a 1981 Seca 550 and I was able to ride it home perfectly fine and the next day was great also. However after that day the battery had died. I called up the guy I bought it from and he brought over a charger. I charged it overnight and it ran fine the whole day. But then it died again overnight. I just started to leave the battery on the charger every night. However, now it won't start at all. I got the battery tested and it's fine, so what do you guys think could be the problem? It won't start or turn over at all.
i'm pretty new at this and I don't know much about bikes. I'm hoping I can learn a lot with this one. Thanks.

 

your battery is probably cooked now if you've been leaving the charger on it all the time. check to see if there is any fluid left in it.

 

Yea the battery's fine. I went to AutoZone to get it checked and they told me it's perfectly fine.

 

Fusebox, or safety circuit (sidestand switch, etc.)

Your first investment needs to be a SERVICE MANUAL for your bike. The aftermarket book for the 550s is by Clymer; or track down a factory book.

If it won't even turn over (as in no spinning the starter, nothing) and if you didn't bump the off/run/off switch, then it may "think" that the sidestand is down and it's in gear. If the red "oil level" lamp comes on when you mash the starter button, it's telling you the safety circuit is activated.

Quick background: The bike is equipped with a safety cutoff system that prevents it from starting or running in gear with the sidestand down; but will allow it to start in gear with the sidestand up as long as the clutch is pulled in. This system consists of the sidestand switch, sidestand relay, neutral switch, clutch switch and safety (cutoff) relay.

 

Ok yea I have a service manual. That red light does come on when I mash the starter. Should I look for the sidestand safety cutoff in the manual?

 

After you figure out wht it won't start you need to look into why the battery keeps discharging. You should not need to keep a charger on it . The charging curcuit is the likley cause, a bad regulator/rectifier will charge a battery and dischsrge in when the engine is off.

 

Just tried starting it again with kickstand up and bumping the on/off switch, the oil level light doesn't turn on but it still doesn't start.

 

The reason I asked about the off/run/off (kill) switch is that it is easily bumped to "off." Make sure it's ON (in "run.")

Does the NEUTRAL light come on? It won't start in gear either (even with the sidestand UP) unless the clutch is pulled in.

Don't just assume "relay." The sidestand switch and neutral switch are more common points of failure.

Which book do you have?

 

Yea the neutral light is on and I held in the clutch. Nothing.

I have a service manual pdf that the previous owner gave me. Here it is: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hghh1kwgldvrn ... Manual.pdf

 

OK, well start with the fuse box and the sidestand SWITCH.

The fuse clips in the original fuse boxes crystallize over time and often break all on their own. The fuse box can be rebuilt; the recommended remedy is to upgrade it to a new blade-type fuse panel. Here's a good "how-to" by a forum member: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/p=309164.html

The sidestand switch, because of where it is located, is often at the top of the list, suspect-wise. With my first XJ (my '81) both the fusebox and sidestand switch were culprits.

You have a factory book; this is good. Start on page 80 (6-1) of your "Dropbox" book, that's the circuit diagram. The next page (6-2) has the fault isolation diagram for the starting/safety circuit.

There is also a lot of good info in here in regard to relay location and testing the various switches: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=27543.html

Here are a couple of pics for you too; a refurbished fuse box and a closeup of the sidestand switch:

 

So I changed the battery, disconnected the side stand switch and checked the fuses and it still won't start. It started turning over yesterday without me even doing anything and then it stopped.

 

Possibly a bad ground somewhere? Or starter solenoid? Suggest to make sure you are in neutral engine stop is in the on position, and then short the 2 large posts on the starter solenoid and see if the starter spins?

That is assuming your starter solenoid is similar to the 85 maxim xj700

Also willing to bet the charge circuit is bad somewhere. Shouldn't be killing batteries like that..

 

You can't simply disconnect the sidestand switch. Doing that will cause the bike to think the stand is always down. The switch has to be bypassed ("jumpered") to disable it (not recommended.)

You need to get a multimeter and use the electrical fault isolation diagrams in the factory book to help you track this down.

 

I just replaced the fuses and now it's turning over but still isn't starting. Might still be the side stand, how can I bypass it and force it to turn off?

 

Why don't you do a couple of diagnostic tests.

Don't assume the Battery is good.
If it lost its charge between outings, ... the Battery isn't TAKING a charge.

Remove the Battery.
Charge it.
Bring it to AutoZone or some place that will Test its CRANKING AMPS.

Inspect the Alternator Brushes and Rotor.
Replace the Brushes if they are less than 10mm long.

Dress the Rotors Brush Orbits with a Pumice-type Eraser.
An old-fashioned Typewriter "Wheel and Brush" type is ideal.

 

An old-fashioned typewriter? What's that? lol!