Hi to everyone and merry Xmas.🎄
I have had my bike off the road since my last post and it's really getting me down.
I previously posted about pushing the starter button and getting a clicking noise as well as when holding the starter switch the fuel pump continues to prime till I stop pushing it. Battery is fully charged and I put a spanner across the positive and negative terminals on the starter solenoid and the starter motor doesn't even click. There's power to the starter although I don't know how the terminals go. I'm assuming the negative is the attachment in the middle with the plastic cover on it. The switches are all good. If the clutch is engaged the fuel pump works . I'm assuming the kill switch works as the bike won't prime when it's off but does when it's on. Solenoid as previously mentioned clicks.
How do you get the starter motor out.. is there a manual you can buy. Interestingly I get the feeling starter motors rarely brake as there's no videos on the net about them .
Any help would be so appreciated. Cheers Matt
Hi Matt, the workshop manuals are in the downloads section on here...they should help.
Quote from: Aussie Matt on Sunday, 04 January 2026, 05:21 PMI'm assuming the negative is the attachment in the middle with the plastic cover on it.
I think you will find that that is the positive feed to the starter, the negative is the Engine itself.
Matt, not starting means lots of things. Do you mean it just doesnt crank over?
Cable in starter motor is positive. Check that you are getting power when you press a button
Ayup. Time to work though the system step by step then. Is there power from the battery to the solenoid under the LH side cover? does the trigger feed to the solenoid get 12v when you push the button? As I recall there's a big fuse on the solenoid too.
Might be worth bypassing the clutch & sidestand switches to see if it makes any difference. Don't run it like that if it works though as they change the ignition map & the bike rides crap.
Quote from: grog on Sunday, 04 January 2026, 07:12 PMMatt, not starting means lots of things. Do you mean it just doesnt crank over?
Yeah it wont crank over. I tried everything. I've looped the positive and negative at the solenoid and it makes no sound.
Quote from: Mick_J on Sunday, 04 January 2026, 07:02 PMQuote from: Aussie Matt on Sunday, 04 January 2026, 05:21 PMI'm assuming the negative is the attachment in the middle with the plastic cover on it.
I think you will find that that is the positive feed to the starter, the negative is the Engine itself.
I tested the voltage to that from the solenoid and there's power to the connection there. If I hit the starter all I get is the solenoid clicking and fuel pump priming.i can't remember if the clutch has to be pulled in in neutral to start but I've done it and still doesn't budge the starter motor. I think it must be the starter motor.
Sorry for your issues.
Clutch microswitch needs to be closed for starter to crank. Try wiggling the contacts at the clutch lever where they plug into the switch.
Download the manual from here, pulling the starter motor is pretty easy, but they rarely fail. I reckon its the clutch switch or relay ams fuse on the lhs below the seat behind the plastic panel
Removing the starter motor is the last step. first we must rigorously do what is discussed here
I assume you have tried a jump pack on it? as that is what they can do with a failed battery.
Quote from: Eric GSX1400K3 on Monday, 05 January 2026, 12:13 AMSorry for your issues.
Clutch microswitch needs to be closed for starter to crank. Try wiggling the contacts at the clutch lever where they plug into the switch.
Download the manual from here, pulling the starter motor is pretty easy, but they rarely fail. I reckon its the clutch switch or relay ams fuse on the lhs below the seat behind the plastic panel
The fuse is ok 30 amp ... tested that. I've checked all the switches like the clutch and the side stand. I'm assuming the fuel pump won't prime if they aren't making a circuit.
The bikes only done 22,000 kms from new. From memory if the side stand is up you don't need to pull the clutch to start in neutral right?
Quote from: Barbastro K6 on Sunday, 04 January 2026, 07:45 PMCable in starter motor is positive. Check that you are getting power when you press a button
Do you put the mutimeter across earth and positive on starter whilst pushing start button..... in neutral does the clutch need to be pulled in?
Many years ago I stripped the starter motor on my Katana 1100. I think there were brushes that can wear down (it was a while ago) and a thorough clean did get it working again.
Matt, first is battery test,might be charged but could also be crook.Take it to batt shop or auto elec.
Quote from: Aussie Matt on Monday, 05 January 2026, 08:04 AMQuote from: Eric GSX1400K3 on Monday, 05 January 2026, 12:13 AMSorry for your issues.
Clutch microswitch needs to be closed for starter to crank. Try wiggling the contacts at the clutch lever where they plug into the switch.
Download the manual from here, pulling the starter motor is pretty easy, but they rarely fail. I reckon its the clutch switch or relay ams fuse on the lhs below the seat behind the plastic panel
The fuse is ok 30 amp ... tested that. I've checked all the switches like the clutch and the side stand. I'm assuming the fuel pump won't prime if they aren't making a circuit.
The bikes only done 22,000 kms from new. From memory if the side stand is up you don't need to pull the clutch to start in neutral right?
No, you
always have to pull the clutch in to activate the starter.
Try wiggling the clutch lever with the starter held in. On my old 14 it used to have it's moments when the lever had to be 1/4" or so out from the bars before the clutch switch worked. I never did solve it as it was so easy to work around.
Am I right in thinking the flasher unit is linked to the starter circuit?
Ie: not been recently replaced with an Led friendly type..
Quote from: Cikik on Tuesday, 06 January 2026, 06:41 AMAm I right in thinking the flasher unit is linked to the starter circuit?
Ie: not been recently replaced with an Led friendly type..
Yup, it's a 7-pin relay that does the flasher & the starter circuit.
Quote from: Aussie Matt on Monday, 05 January 2026, 08:04 AMQuote from: Eric GSX1400K3 on Monday, 05 January 2026, 12:13 AMSorry for your issues.
Clutch microswitch needs to be closed for starter to crank. Try wiggling the contacts at the clutch lever where they plug into the switch.
Download the manual from here, pulling the starter motor is pretty easy, but they rarely fail. I reckon its the clutch switch or relay ams fuse on the lhs below the seat behind the plastic panel
The fuse is ok 30 amp ... tested that. I've checked all the switches like the clutch and the side stand. I'm assuming the fuel pump won't prime if they aren't making a circuit.
The bikes only done 22,000 kms from new. From memory if the side stand is up you don't need to pull the clutch to start in neutral right?
Quote from: Aussie Matt on Monday, 05 January 2026, 08:34 AMQuote from: Barbastro K6 on Sunday, 04 January 2026, 07:45 PMCable in starter motor is positive. Check that you are getting power when you press a button
Do you put the mutimeter across earth and positive on starter whilst pushing start button..... in neutral does the clutch need to be pulled in?
It's a zook, stand up, in neutral, clutch in. (I find sometimes it's a bit grabby when in gear and ignition on)
Always clutch in to close the microswitch circuit at the handlebar to start. Once running and in neutral it will of course idle with the bike on the sidestand