1981 xj550 wont start

so, Im new to this, picked up an 81 xj550 about a month ago. I fixed what I could then wheeled it down to a mechanic. So today everything was fine and I went for my first ride. Got to the end of the road and it stalls. I try to start it up but all I get is an electric clicking sound. Not sure what to do I check the fuses which are fine. I check the battery connection, one of them is loose (at the time I didn't know that was a problem) I let it be because i figured they where making contact so it was good. I keep screwing around and trying to start it until finnaly it wont even make the clicking electrical noise. Almost nothing happens when I press the start button, except that the voltage indicator goes down a bit. So I got the pleasure of walking it home a quarter mile in 100 degree weather and 60% humidity, but that is beside the point. Anyone have any idea what it may be. Thanks for any help.

 

sounds like yure batt. kicked the bucket.
did yu charge it up??
try a slow charge for several hrs. if the batt is more than 3 yrs ols ..its prolly on its last leg.
that loose connection may have kept it from charging.

thats where i would start :wink:

 

thanks for the responces, I don't know what you mean by "jump across the relay with a screw driver". And the battery is brand new, bought and charged less than a month ago.

 

A month ago... I'd still check the battery.

Also check the charging system, if it's not holding a charge.

 

if you get stranded again.... the 550 is not that hard to push-start, even if you're sitting on it. I escaped a dead battery situation twice that way. 2nd or 3rd gear works pretty good...

it also sounds like you might not be getting a good charge from your alternator... and a battery contact is no good even if it's a little loose.

does the headlight get brighter if you rev the engine?

 

You STILL need to check-out the charging system.

You need to hook-up a Voltage Meter to the battery.
When the bike is running at 2,000 rpm's ... you need to see between 14.2 ~ 14.5 Volts being supplied to the system.

If not ... a brand-new, charged-up battery is going to lose its charge real quick.

The battery needs to have more juice coming-in than going-out.

That's ... all she wrote!

 

Battery Contacts Must Be Tight.

Electrical connections must be clean. A small voltage drop can make a big problem for the system, esp. when there are several circuits affected.

Alternator brushes must be within spec.

Check output as per Rick's instructions. Make sure the system is not overcharging and the battery is not "boiling".

A XJ will turn over on a almost flat battery but will not start. The XJ starter system is almost too good. You can crank the bike for 10 minutes on a near flat battery, but there is no power left to Spark your Plugs!

Clean, tighten, inspect, test, charge.

 

wow, thanks for all the responses. It turns out that the battery is dead. After charging it I will check to make sure that the charging system is working correctly, although I imagine it was just that the battery connection was loose for so long that it just kept loosing charge every time I started it. Thank you again. I feel stupid for it being such a little problem, but oh well, one day older one mistake wiser.

 

You might as well have a quick look at the alternator brushes while you are at it!

Hope it is that simple. Use a motorcylce charger @ 1 amp, it does not take long to charge a bike battery and they can be damaged by a car charger.

A fuse box replacement is also a good idea .

Good luck, let us know if that fixes things!

 

Thanks Kiwi!

Nice to have a guy on the Stage Coach runnin' Shotgun!

 

Take Rick's signature advice and replace the fuse panel. I found out that one on my own '81 550 last night! The stock one's a POS. Trust me on this. It's right under the seat, in a little black, flat box marked (of all things...)"FUSE."