XJ550 Starter clicks, but doesnt turn over

I have been riding my 82' XJ550 for about 1400 miles now thanks to the help of this board and I really want to say thanks first of all.

Secondly, I am having trouble starting the bike. Here's whats going on: When I try to start the bike, I get a faint noise like the starter is trying to turn, but then it doesnt and I just get a click sound. I have taken the battery off, put it on a slow charge overnight, but even right when I hooked the battery up it said it was already fully charged, most likely because the battery is only 2 weeks old. I have also taken a screw driver and jumped on the starter relay, and I am getting good spark there. The plugs have been removed, cleaned, and inspected as I just changed out the top valve cover gasket. This leads me to believe that it is the actual starter itself, which wouldn't surprise me because we do have to kinda lay on the starter sometimes as well as use starting fluid from time to time to get her to fire up when she's cold.

If you guys need any other info just let me know.. I just dont know what to test/replace from here. Riding season is alive here in GA and it sucks not being on the road.

PS- The day the starter stopped turning weakly and would not turn at all, I did push start it on the first try.

 

Still sounds like a bad battery to me.
Strange...
And the cold starting problem sounds like carbs, not battery.

I'm not a mechanic, though. So we'll have to wait and see what someone else says.

 

yeah, my dad said it sounded like the battery too but Im pretty sure that's not it. It was kinda progressive though, it started strong, then got a little weaker, then got the point where it would barely turn over, and now nothing but a click when i let off the starter button.

 

Try using the screwdriver on the starter solenoid. If you get the starter to turn over then you have found the problem and it's you starter solenoid. If that's not the case then try finding a starter on EBAY. Any starter from the seca 550, the FJ600, the FZ600 or the Radian engine will work. In the meantime put on some choke, run down the street, pop it into second and wait for it to come to life Who say's you need a starter to go riding

 

I did the jump on the starter solenoid, and I got spark. Is there any way I can ensure that it is the starter prior to buying one besides eliminating the fact that it is not the battery or starter solenoid that is giving me trouble?

 

Well, I'm not a mechanic either but, did you check the fuses? Or have you upgraded the panel yet?

I have had a problem like that in the past. It's usually fixed by wiggling the fuse around.