Some clarification please

Hello xj community,

Im just wondering if someone can clear this up for me I am a bit confused.
My '80 xj650 won't start and I believe it is the battery, but I am not sure and I want to get someone's opinion before I go buy one.

When I try to start it all I get is the click. My neutral light is on and my red oil light turns on when I try to start it. Ive read this is due to the safety relay, however it has done that since I got the bike and never gave me a problem before.

My battery was out of the bike indoors all winter, and regrettably I let it sit with low fluid. I topped it up, and got my bike to start once but it was hooked up to a charger, after it ran and I turned it off, it wouldn't start again.

My battery reads 13v before I turn the key on, 12.3v while the key is on and around 12.1v when i click the starter. I've charged it to full a couple times with my battery tender. Is it my battery?

 

Voltages seem about right. You checked the starter solenoid?

 

I tried a screwdriver across the posts and nothing happened

 

Could be the starter itself. Signals and everything still work properly?

 

Yup, no problems anywhere else.

 

Hmm, I'm tempted to say something is wrong with the starter, but perhaps another senior member could weigh in herr

 

If you jumpered across the big terminals on the solenoid and nothing happened, it has to be the starter unless the battery isn't hooked up properly.

When you short across the solenoid, you're applying power directly to the starter.

 

put the kick stand up, reach down and manually pull on the plunger anyway......see if it comes out even the tiniest bit. If it does, try starting now......plunger could have been stuck in just enough. That happens a lot.

If it is all the way out, then I'd start looking at the kill switch on the handlebar.

Personally, I'd swap batteries, too...............

dave

 

Been there, done that.

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=45727.html

 

Is there a pic of this kickstand plunger somewhere? I don't see it anywhere on mine (again '80 650 maxim) when I look down there the only thing touching the kickstand is the spring and the bolts to the frame.

 

Just some more info:

- I leaned towards the battery because it started up fine last fall, and the battery sitting unused and low for about 5 months i thought it would kill it

- The battery was new last April

- As I said with key on its 12.3v before I touch starter (I've fully charged it a couple times over the last few days), should this be higher? (some threads seem to say it should be around or above 12.6 at this point)

- Should I just start by buying a new battery? Or is it safe to say that's not the problem (I don't like to buy things I don't need)

 

Again, shorting across the solenoid should be the same thing as simply applying 12V directly to the starter. Unless the battery isn't hooked up properly or the motor is suddenly missing a ground strap.

 

Alright thanks for all the help.

 

there's one terminal on the starter, put + there, put - to the frame.
the starter should go if it's ok.
make sure it's in neutral.
use jumpers off of your battery, then you prove the battery and starter

 

Could this be the culprit?