82 Maxim 650 Wont Start

Hi,

I have an 82 maxim that just recently wont start. I've been having battery problems, where I would need to get a jumper pack to start it. It eventually stopped starting, even with the jumper pack, so I decided to buy a new battery.

I charged it, and the bike still wont turn over. I can hear the solenoid click and the oil light flashes when I hit the start button, but it doesn't even try to turn over. Its as if the bike was in gear. I've made sure its in neutral and the switch is in the on position. All main fuses seem to be fine as well.

Was riding it last week with a week battery, and out of nowhere, it doesn't even try to start.

Is it a starter issue? or some other kind of electrical issue? Only other thing I messed with when switching out the battery was changing the headlight bulb because that stopped working last summer

Any insight would be greatly appreciated

 

Here's some good information about checking the electronics of the starting system:
https://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/won’t-start-1983-yamaha-xj750-maxim.118050/#post-591103

My 82 XJ650J will sometimes do nothing when start button is pressed, but so far it still works at least 50% of the time. I suspect I will need to go through this troubleshooting list myself soon.

 

clean the battery and starter cable connections on the solinoid

 

thanks! this helps a lot

 

If battery is fully charged , and will not crank the solenoid is likely culprit you can try to jumper solenoid if this allows it to crank ...replace solenoid, they are cheap on eBay think i bought two for 20$ . I had a starter that was bi polar sometimes I tapped it with a mallet and it would work ..you might try that as well.

 

Hey thanks for the input. But the solenoid clicks when I hit the start button, which makes me think its not the solenoid. Battery has about 12.7 V and there is no other noise when I hit the start button besides the solenoid clicking

 

Don't be fooled by this. Get a rough old screwdriver and jam it across the solenoid terminals, quicker than asking on here and waiting for a response. It will tell you all you need to know.

 

Clicking is the usual problem , I had a solenoid you could tap it and it sometimes worked . Finally replaced no more issue. Pulled original apart and it was full of corrosion.

 

clean the battery and starter cable on the solenoid that may be the issue if that doesn't solve it then you know you need a solenoid

 

You were absolutely right! I used a screwdriver and jumped the solenoid, and the starter cranked. Ordered a solenoid from the link below... it delivered next day and bike started right up. Thanks everyone!

https://www.motorcycleid.com/ricks-motorsport-electrics/starter-solenoid-switch.html