Starting issueing

when I went to start my XJ700N today and got nothing when I pushed the start button. Checked to make sure I was in neutral and tried again. Again nothing although the lights dimmed. Put the kickstand up and still nothing. Cussed and pushed the start button a few more times and suddenedly it cranked over and started immediately. Rode about 20 miles and everything seems to now work. The bike has almost. 17,000 miles, is bone stock, battery is about a year old and stays hooked to a battery tender, and I've never had any electrical issues. I'm assuming I need to take a look at start button and see if there is any corrosion. But before doing that I'm open to other possibilities.

 

Pushing the start button completes the ground circuit from the solenoid. Some models use the control switch-to-handlebars contact as the "ground", you haven't painted the handlebars have you? One way to test for bad ground is to run a wire from the control switch (any metal part of it) over the battery neg (or good ground on the frame) and see if that changes performance of the start button. Of course, it could also be a loose positive lead (from the solenoid) to the little contact within the control switch housing that the pushbutton contacts to then direct it to ground.....

 

Did you notice whether the oil light illuminated when you pushed the button?

Which lights dimmed? Neutral light or are you referring to the headlight being switched off?

 

No paint on the handlebars. Fortunately everything is like it came from the factory except for the fact that the po added some light flames to the gas tank. I'll take a look at the contacts and check the connections. As to the oil light I don't remember if it came on when it wasn't starting, however I just checked and it is coming on now that the starter button is working. It was the headlight that was initially dimming. Gremlins I guess.

 

The headlight should go out when you press the button, not dim. So, maybe the mechanism for the start button does need some cleaning. Sounds like you are headed that way anyway.

 

Thanks. I'll check it tomorrow or Sunday. I sort of expected that's where the problem was.

 

If it were me.......disassembled & clean the start switch.....but like Chacal said........check your grounds.....

 

I had same problem ...replaced solenoid ..fixed ... old solenoid had corrosion inside.. sometimes pushing start button it would hit first time... other times push several times nothing would turn off ignition and try it again it would crank ... very annoying .. so nice it is fixed.