Starter button problem

I have an 83 maxim 750 and am having major problems with my start button. It originally worked every time, then only some times, and now it won't work at all. The only way I am able to start my bike is by using a screw driver on the starter cylanoid posts and I'm afraid if I keep doing this I will cause other damage to my bike. Anyway, when I press in the start button my headlight goes out like normal but nothing else happens. When I let off the start button I can hear the starter cylanoid click so it must still be getting some power at least. What do you guys think could be causing this?

 

Could be a dodgy solenoid or a bad earth... Is the battery holding a good charge?

 

The battery is good. It is only a year old and I threw a charger on it to make sure. Oh and I also took the starter button apart today and cleaned it all out to make sure everything was good in there.

 

Have a crack at this:

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=7828.html

 

I had the same problem and it was the solenoid, which would work sometimes, which drove me crazy. Ever since I replaced it, the bike starts on the button every time.

 

I'm going to +1 this, it sounds like you're having a solenoid problem.

you can check the relay to see if it works, if you can hear it clicking, it's probably working.

from the relay it goes to the solenoid, then to the starter, you can 'jump' the solenoid, and it should jump the starter.

 

Give this a shot
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=7828.html

*EDIT* Oops did not see you were already on the case Alive