XJ700 Starting Question

Hi all, I've had my '85 XJ700N for a few great years.

I'm having a starting issue, maybe the symptoms are more telling to someone with more experience?

I actually think it's 2 separate issues...

When I press the starter I get a click from the solenoid, but no start. If I put the bike in gear and rock it back and forth a bit, the starter eventually activates. Started as intermittent, and became constant as of last week. Oil light does turn on, so there's a good ground.

Second issue: now the starter makes a weak sound here or there, but will no longer engage.

Bike always bump starts perfect.

Troubleshooting steps so far: Replaced the battery with a new Yuasa battery. Tried shorting the solenoid and had no response, so I think that indicates the solenoid is not the problem?

I have ordered a replacement solenoid just to be sure. I was preparing to order a starter rebuild kit, too, but is there anything else I should check out?

Thanks in advance!

 

could be a dirty starter button but that would not account for solenoid . clean cables on solenoid and battery. rebuilding starter is good even if it is some other part as problem

 

Right, I don't think the starter button could be causing this issue since I always get the solenoid click. I'll try cleaning up the cables, and I'll replace the solenoid when the new one arrives in a few days.

Thanks for the tip... If no one else has any ideas, I'll just rebuild the starter like I intended to.

 

I would start with the cheap and easy first, and start as you have planned. It sounds to me like the brushes on your starter are marginal. Along the lines of the roll it in gear, or old "knock the starter with a hammer" tricks with nearly dead car starters.

 

Update:

I got my multimeter out and tested the new battery, power to the solenoid, power leaving the solenoid, and power at the starter. All check out fine, over 12 volts.

I pulled the starter and hooked it up to a spare battery, no motion or sound whatsoever...

I think it's safe to say that the starter is shot? If so, time to message Len for a rebuild kit

 

How much over 12 volts?
I ask because the battery should be over 13 volts (~ 13.6 to 13.8 at rest, fully charged).

Rebuild the starter anyway, because that probably is the root cause for the trouble.

 

Voltage consistently reads just under 13v. I'll put it on my battery tender to be sure!

 

Battery is probably fine. The real test will be when you go to start after the starter has been rebuilt.

 

Just an update: I ended up getting another starter (thanks chacal!) and swapped it in, problem solved. No relay issues, no solenoid problems, bike fires right up.

Thanks for all of your help!!