NEW BATTERY - WON'T LIGHT UP / START

ALL-

You've been incredibly helpful on this sight for my few years of 1981 XJ 550 Maxim ownership

I recently (last 5 months) was recovering from a serious back issue (non moto related) but it did have me shelve my bike.

I put it on a battery maintainer and let it sit in the garage.

Now that i'm coming out of my injury, i've been slowly making room in my garage for the bike to come back to life.

I went to turn it on and it was weak (found out during a storm, house got a surge and fried the battery maintainer)

anyway, gave me cause to refresh the battery, brand new from Batteries Plus, reattach it, and try again.


THE PROBLEM

now it won't light up at the key turn and it definitely doesn't stir at all when using the starter button.

checked 3 fuses under the seat, nothing seems burned out...

wondering what the culprit could possibly be so i can trace the system and try to un-f*ck the problem (technical term)

Can anyone wax poetic on what I should consider? and then how I would approach troubleshooting it?

Jason

 

Do you have the glass fuses? The clips on them cause problems. Make sure the clips are clean and making good contact.

 

I have the standard blade fuses, I have never seen a glass fuse anywhere on this bike.

 

Double check that polarity on the battery / terminals to be sure they got it right when they sold you the battery

There should be 4 fuses. If nothing is working the main fuse would be suspect. The clips on the glass fuses do cause issues as Franz suggested

Edit - you posted you have blades - if you didn't install them double check that work. A DMM would be very handy to check voltages

 

I don’t know what a DMM is. Sorry.

 

The start button on my bike was corroded and wouldn’t allow my bike to start.

I don’t know if you have a factory service manual , but mine has step by step instructions on what to do if it doesn’t start. You will need a digital multimeter (DMM) though.

If I recall, the first step was to use a jumper cable from the positive on the battery to the positive on the starter to see if the starter works..

 

That sounds simple enough. Trouble is I don’t know how to access the started or where it is.

 

Jason do you have a Haynes manual for your bike?

 

i do not. i have zero manuals and (near) zero wiring experience.

 

You should get a manual to help you identify parts. No start and no neutral light. Is the machine in gear with the side stand down? Can you post a picture of your fuse box wiring?

 

In Neutral / Side stand down

my wiring is SPAGHETTI but i'll post it shortly

 

would you like fresh grated parmesan on your spaghetti?

 

I have seen worse than that. Have you tried starting it with the side stand up and clutch lever pulled in?

 

I don’t know what that means.

Since my last post, check the batt and it was dead. It’s now on a charger at the Batteries Plus being ‘serviced’ til tomorrow.

But it was a brand new battery. So something is draining the thing when i hooked it into the system.

 

Our bikes are fitted with a side stand safety system so you cannot ride the bike if the side stand is down. That's why l was asking.

 

My bike can’t possibly have that (functional anyway) as I’ve ridden (in the first few days with it down by accident.

 

Sounds like this is your issue.

 

Yes. Of course.

The question I have (clearly stated) is what systems (if any) can drain a brand new battery in two days?

that’s where my lack of experience and knowledge hinders me to troubleshoot the bike’s issues.

So I KNOW that’s the issue, I just don’t know how to CHASE down the offending system.

 

Might be a stupid question....but...

Are you sure the battery was fully charged when you installed it?

 

Not stupid at all.

I’m stupid, keep that in mind.

Potentially poorly charged battery is the operating theory the guy at Batteries Plus had.

but if it’s not that, I’d love to know what ghosts to chase that may sap a battery.

 

All

Sorry to 'keep on this' thread, but i'm trying to get this thing running consistently.

• Got my battery squared. Essentially a NEW battery.

Just got the bike running again and it was running great for a few days after months of sitting in my garage while i recovered from surgery.

Rode it for a few hours over a few days, and all was right with the universe.

Putting it on Battery Tender each night, when it's parked it stays on that.

Now it won't turn over, and as I try it gets more and more drained to the point when i press the starter button it clicks and clicks and clicks.

I've been told this is the STARTER UNIT.

I haven't been told if there's a way to clean/maintain it or if i would have to replace it.

And I don't know how to replace it on top of that.

I am recovering from back/leg injury, so it's not easy for me to peer into and adjust nooks and crannies at the moment (back / hips just really stiff these days).

The moto peeps I know are all telling me conflicting things; they have Harley's and Honda and dirt bikes... So i wanted to come here and see the other XJ'ers thoughts, as you've all helped me before.

• Is there a possibility to simply CLEAN the STARTER UNIT and fix my issue?
  • my gearhead pal had me banging a wrench on the drum of the starter prior to the thing starting up, was convinced there was just 'gunk' in there and it helped start.
  • I'm on the fence if it did anything.
    
• Is there a some sort of video or photo play-by-play explainer out there that can show me how to maintain / clean the STARTER UNIT?
  • This will help me tremendously; I'm not that bright.

If i go the route of replacing STARTER UNIT (which i'm inclined to do)

• Is it as simple as buying an off the rack STARTER UNIT (generic to a point) and installing it on the bike?
  • the consensus with a few folks is that this is the case, but it sounds like BS to me.
• Does anyone HAVE a XJ550 Maxim STARTER UNIT?

 

I’m a novice too but I’d like to give my feedback in case it helps. (Without seeing the bike, this could be totally wrong).

It sounds like either/and/ or:
1) the charging system on your bike isn’t working
2) you have a parasitic draw above what your battery tender feeds

If your battery gets deeply discharged by either of the two methods above the bike won’t start and the battery with either need replacement or to be de-sulfated

To track all this down you will really need to find someone who knows how to use a digital multi meter (dmm) and preferably has a factory service manual.

Even if my guess is wrong, to track this issue down a dmm and service manual will be required.

The only POSSIBLE quick fix I can see that would possibly fix the parasitic draw issue (if it does exist) is a higher amp trickle charger.

I hope this helps. I know how frustrating these things can be.

 

It really depends on what this means, and as Chris123 said we are not there

If the battery is maintaining the 12V (DMM connected to battery) and the solenoid just clicks, then that points to a solenoid or starter. If the solenoid then the high current contacts are not making, or if it's the starter it's most likely poor contact between the brushes and the commutator. The latter, as suggested by one of your friends can sometime be solved momentarily by rapping on the starter, which can make the connection between the brushes and commutator

One crude but simple test often suggested is using an old screwdriver and shorting across the two large nuts on the solenoid. This totally bypasses all the safety circuits and simplifies it to either the battery or starter is bad if the engine does not turn over when doing this. If you try it just make sure you are in neutral and key off, and best on center stand. With key on the bike will / should start when this is done

If a known good battery on a maintainer is not holding the charge, then yes there is some type of parasitic drain or the battery is just no good. The parasitic drain is a bit hard to believe as most battery maintainers are capable of an amp of current. And, checking the battery is easily verifiable with a DMM across the battery to monitor the voltage when the start button is depressed looking for a minimum of 10V.

This link is for the 650 / 750 starters, but the basics are the same and it is a fairly easy job to clean / rebuild a starter if need be

https://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/replacing-your-starter-motor-brushes-w-pics.45727/