'87 1200 I -starter button does nothing

[tapemeasureman]

Typically bike always starts in 1 or 2 revolutions, although it did make a squawking noise as it turned over. Battery has juice, starter engages if I jump terminals at the solenoid, but doesnt seem like it really wants to spin. Pushing the starter button does nothing, not even a click. Prior to this no start scenario the starter used to make a squalling noise as the motor started, Then I accidentally left the parking lights on the other day, and it ran battery way down, Now that the battery is charged up again, I get nada from pushing the button. Is it the starter motor, ignition switch switch, starter button or connections in between ?

[winguyjo]

my prime suspect would be the battery. sounds like it has barely enough power to crank the engine and only after you have bypassed a few connections. have it load tested and/or try jump starting from a known good battery (12.x volts on a voltmeter doesn't tell the whole story with a battery).

[tapemeasureman]

True, but it reads 14+ volts when I test at battery, and Ive tried jumping it off w my van. Connected to the van it does elicit a click from the solenoid. The inline volt meter I installed only reads 11.2 v.

[winguyjo]

sounds like the problem is probably elsewhere then. what voltage are you getting at the starter while attempting to crank ?

[tapemeasureman]

Hadnt thought to check there, makes sense though. When I jump the solenoid it sounds like the bendix shoots the gear out, but it doesnt mesh w the other gear. But Im half deaf and thats just what it sounds like to me. Im thinking the issue is with the starter itself, and only coincided with leaving the parking light on, as its charged back up now although I have a new battery coming Tuesday. ( I have 2 other bikes use the same size battery) Just replaced the solenoid a few months ago when it started melting from a loose connection at the starter cable. Its FIRST replacement was faulty and had to source a 2cnd one. That had me all messed up thinking I had done something wrong until by chance i hooked up the old melted one and it still worked fine. Maybe I should drag that melted one back out and try it again.

[winguyjo]

these starters do not have a bendix drive. the drive gear is constantly meshed with a sprocket which drives a chain.
i am thinking you should check voltage at the starter/listen to hear if the starter is actually spinning (the sprague clutch is known to get gummed up and not work properly)/remove , inspect, clean and regrease the starter (replacing brushes if necessary) if the foregoing checks out.

[tapemeasureman]

Yeah, new battery came today. Didnt have time tonight to mess with it tonight. I think Ill swap batteries, and the solenoids if I dont see a drastic change, then this w/e Ill put it on the lift. Guess I should go ahead and start reading up on pulling the starter. Ill keep this post up to date. Thanx.

[patbrandon1]

If you're pushing the starter button and it does nothing, not even a click, and your battery read 14V, that isn't good. BUT without a load, a multi meter reading cannot be telling you how sound the battery is. And where is your inline voltmeter ? If that says 12.2, and at your battery it is 14+, there is something wrong.

The starter button may have a short. It should produce some kind of voltage to the starter. Put a voltmeter on your starter and press the starter button. Do you see any voltage registering? Put the voltmeter on the battery during start and see what the voltage drops to.

The relay could be doing something weird too.

All the other replies are certainly valid, but my thoughts went more towards why no response from the button, and the differences in voltage from batter and inline meter.

Keep us posted on what you find out.

[tapemeasureman]

Thanx for your reply. As it works out something is locked up. IDK if its just the starter or the engine itself. Havnt had time to really look into it. Ive just put a cover on it and itll have to wait till the weather turns warm again. Ive just moved my GS1000 and the CBX to the front row, and the Goldie to the back burner. Have you ever not wanted to know whats wrong because you really know already. Thats kinda where Im at with it right now. Thanx again for your concern and time. Ill look into it some more in March or April.

[DenverWinger]

Before you put the 1200 too far in back try unscrewing all the sparkplugs, put a rag over the sparkplug holes and try again. Might be as simple as a hydrolock.

[tapemeasureman]

Copy that, Im currently out w the Covid.