1983 Suzuki GS750E strange electrical problem

[Sneaky]

Hi all-

I just bought a 1983 Suzuki GS750E. I rode it home 115 miles with no problems, and then went to start it the following day and got nothing from the key turn. No lights, no gauges, no sounds, nothing. I checked the battery, and the kill and start switches-- they passed a continuity test. All the fuses including the main fuse are apparently intact. The bike will turn on once in a while when I try the key, but it dies out again completely if I toggle the kill switch or hit the start button (the starter makes one click as the bike shuts off).

I believe the problem to be in my starter system, and according to my service manual, the only things in the system I haven't checked are the ignition switch, the starter, and the starter relay. Can one of these things cause these symptoms? I suspect the ignition switch is faulty because it was a little picky about not being turned too far, before the problem. How do I test this? What else do you think it might be?

Thanks

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[ehuffman]

Did you charge the battery? Is it at full charge?

[Easy Rider]

Did you charge the battery? Is it at full charge?

And check both ends of the main battery cables.

Odds are great that the battery is old and needs to be replaced.
After that, you can check the charging voltage.

If you don't have a multi-meter, now would be a good time to get one.
Guessing at what the problem is NOT the way to go.

[Sneaky]

Thanks for the responses. I have checked the battery with my multimeter, and it is fine. The man who I bought it from told me it was less than six months old, and it looks it. I am fairly certain the battery is not the issue, but I will order a trickle charger anyway.

Where is the other end of my main battery cable? The starter system diagram in my manual shows 2 cables coming off the battery-- 1) going through a fuse (checked), then the ignition switch and so on, and 2) directly to the starter relay.

Thanks again

[Sneaky]

To be clear, here is a photo of the diagram I keep referring to:
GRFKbUS.jpg

[Easy Rider]

I have checked the battery with my multimeter, and it is fine.

Where is the other end of my main battery cable?

First, you can't check the health of a wet-cell battery with a simple voltage measurement like you can with a flashlight battery.

There are two cables: RED goes to one side of the starter solenoid, with a smaller wire coming off the main fuse close by going to everything else.
Then there is the black cable which probably is bolted to the chassis near the starter.

If you have a meter and a wiring diagram you should be able to trace the voltage starting at the battery + post to see where you are losing it.

You might actually have to trace them to find the other end.

[limitedbyfourkawiby2]

starter solenoid and ground wire would be my next best guess.

[Sneaky]

Alright, I'll check the starter solenoid, ground cable, and then start working my way down the main battery cables if I rule out those things. It won't be this week though, it's less than 20* out here and I
m working outside!

Thanks for the help, I'll post back here when I finally figure it out

[limitedbyfourkawiby2]

don't lick the spark plugs or else the kzkzkzkzkz zap.

[Sneaky]

I installed the new starter relay today. It has restored power on the key turn, but pressing the start button resulted in some kind of audible short that shuts the bike down again. After a few seconds, I was able to switch the bike back on with the key, but I haven't tried pressing start again. As a side note, the kill switch had no effect with regard to shorting the circuit. I also cleaned up the battery terminals to no avail.

What does this mean? Also, how do I check the ground wire? Thanks

[Easy Rider]

What does this mean? Also, how do I check the ground wire? Thanks

As I tried to suggest before........it means that you need to do some more voltmeter testing instead of just guessing at what the problem might BE.

Like what voltage do you measure right at the battery posts when (after) it fails ? What about at the battery connection clamps ??
And note that those are two DIFFERENT THINGS. If there is a bad connection at one of the main clamps it could be failing right there.

THEN......it is possible that your starter is shorted out or the engine is locked up or the battery is failing internally (the voltage test should show that).

Private Message sent.

[limitedbyfourkawiby2]

I would get a test light and see if there is anything going from the battery negative to the engine ground.