1980 Honda CM 200T electrical issue?

I'm looking at this bike for a friend, and it's got what I think is a grounding issue. It won't start with the kickstarter, and the electric start turns slowly (starter is fine out of the bike). The clutch cable heats up when the ignition is on (clutch cable and battery ground are on mounted on the same bolt). The frame was just powder coated. I ground down to bare metal where they mount, no change. Any other suggestions? Electrical is NOT my strong point at all.

 

look for a frame ground and voltage reg ground or run one (frame ground) from motor ground to frame,
sounds like the clutch cable is working as a ground

 

Ok, the motor was painted and the frame powder coated.

So you are saying the multiple ground points are encountering resistance somewhere?

The battery ground is on a motor mount bolt (with the clutch cable). I'm guessing something is interfering with the ground circuit, and it's using the clutch cable to try to complete the circuit... I'm hoping I don't have to pull the motor.... The motor was professionally rebuilt, then A "friend of a friend" was going to put it back together for her. After 3 years, he admitted he had no clue what he was doing, and I got the bike mostly in boxes. At least he got the motor in the frame.

 

you should take the powder coat and paint off everywhere things bolt together and make it metal to metal. powder coat is tough but not metal to metal tough. when you tighten a bolt to powder coat it feels tight but if it vibrates or comes loose, the bolt it loose. put some dielectric grease on it, then it won't rust

 

You must have a continuious ground path from battery, to engine case, to frame, and to all the electrical components. If that path is not complete then electricity will find a path to ground, which in this case happens to be the clutch cable (which is why the cable gets warm).

 

Will do guys. Thx