Stating issue

[koreykapla]

My friend has an 85 GoldWing that just makes a clicking sound when the start button is pressed. I told him it sounded like a bad battery, but it's brand new. He's going to bring it over tomorrow so I can take a look at it. Now I'm thinking it could be a loose connection, but I don't know for sure. I've never worked on a GoldWing before. Are there some obvious things I should pay attention to. I would appreciate any heads up. He said the clicking is coming from what he assumes to be the relay, but he's not sure. He said it is behind the side cover near the battery.

[MikeB]

Korey, it sounds like a bad battery to me too. When he brings it over, put a voltmeter on the battery terminals and check the voltage in a static condition (everything off). Then turn on the key and check the battery again. Then try to start the motorcycle. The battery voltage should not drop below about 10.5 volts. If it does and the engine does not attempt to turn over, it certainly is a bad battery.

There is really nothing different about an '85 Goldwing that would cause it to not start. Check all the normal things you would for any other motorcycle.

MikeB

[WingAdmin]

If the battery is brand new, a bad connection (either on the battery, on the ground, the solenoid, or on the starter itself) could definitely cause the problem you're experiencing. Measure the voltage at the starter when you hit the start button, and compare it to the voltage at the battery terminal when you hit the start button. They should be very close.

[koreykapla]

Well I checked the voltage at the starter when pressing the button and they were the same. Now I'm figuring its the starter motor so I tapped on it a few times with a brass hammer and then tried to start. The starter made some noise it hadn't made before, but only for a second or two and then stopped, convincing me it was the starter motor. My buddy brought a Clymer manual with him and it says you must remove the engine in order to remove the starter. If thats the case I'm afraid thats more than I'm willing to take on without a lift.

[WingAdmin]

I'd probably suspect the starter as well.

If the 1200 is anything like the 1100, you don't have to remove the engine to get the starter out. Have a look at this:

How to remove, rebuild and reinstall your starter

[MikeB]

Correct. It is EASIER to replace the starter with the engine out of the frame but it certainly is not necessary. If it were me however, I would definitely have the owner doing the work with supervision.