Testing starter and electrical: 1977 GL1000

[Kwest364]

How to test starter? Test for ohms resistance in starter leads? Which points to touch with meter? What's a good/bad reading?



Previous owner said start/ran with starter (e start), then starter died, and wouldn't start after. How to test and diagnose current starter on bike? Owner also bought a used starter on Ebay and included the "new" starter in purchase. How to bench test the new/used starter to test its health?



I've got a fresh battery for it. What other electrical tests recommended?



I read Randaak's write up of kickstart and "start after sitting for while" article. My bike can kick thru on kickstart easy enough. Haven't tried to kickstart with new battery. If it fired up, I'd be shocked, but he said it ran last few months, maybe I won't need to do as much but.....rust in tank. I'm tempted to try starting, as is, but I KNOW I should remove that tank and clean. I'd put it on a concrete tumbler with some grit media and maybe some small galvanized nuts, bolts, and washers, and fill tank with fresh gas as solvent (better cleaner to use?), set the tank to spinning on tumbler for few days, emptying once a day or so. Best way I can think to thoroughly clean rust out. I never want the carbs gummed up with rust......but will probably need to pull carbs and rebuild and replace pieces, just from age. Might be worth more trouble than worth.



Will probably replace with electronic ignition timing, and also replace ignition coils with GL1500 coils too.



Other advice?



Anyways, how to test these starters? Thanks in advance.

[OldguyGlen]

Crude "Go/NoGo" test on the bike. Get a jumper wire (heavy gauge) and connect battery + to the post on the starter. It will spark but should spin the motor.
Same test for spare starter off the bike. Jumper cables, Plus to post on starter, Negative connects to any clean spot on the starter frame. Clamp the starter as it will jolt violently in reaction to the armature spinning.
You have other issues to address to get it running, but eventually you might take the starter apart and check armature surface and brushes.