Starter

[notmoving]

Ok... I traced that cable to the starter motor. When y'all dropped that term and solenoid, like with everything that's being referenced, I'd search online for schematics and manual links and ebay and mikesxs to clue me in on what I should be looking for. And even with that, I got it totally wrong. My bad for giving photos on eBay and Mikes more credence than schematics.

I cleaned the solenoid terminals and as I said, crossing them cranked the motor. Now what?

And here comes the absolutely most embarrassing question of this thread: I didn't pay attention to where this goes.
I think on the right terminal - the one that leads to the starter motor?

 

[notmoving]

And just so you can have a looksee...

 

[5twins]

Nope, it goes on the left terminal, with the cable from the battery. It's the power feed to the fuse box and supplies battery power to the systems on the whole bike.

 

[gggGary]

With the key on, you can open the circled connector and ground the blue white wire that goes to the solenoid, the bike should crank. your connector will look a little different. If it doesn't crank check that there is 12 volts on the red white wire next to the blue white.

 

[notmoving]

Nope, it goes on the left terminal, with the cable from the battery. It's the power feed to the fuse box and supplies battery power to the systems on the whole bike.

I'm glad I asked first. Thanks!

 

[notmoving]

To quote Keanu: Whoa.
Thanks!!

 

[notmoving]

It does crank when I bridge the terminals with a screwdriver, but still will not start when I press the starter button. The starter button does nothing.

 

[notmoving]

Okay, so the battery is good. The solenoid and starter motor are good. Turning the key in the ignition turns on the brake light indicator. Yet the starter button assembly looks new, shiny and solid.

Let me clarify when I say "lights." My head lamp is not on. When I use the turn signals, it will project a steady beam. Both front and rear. And that light will stay on until I choose the other side. The read brake light will not light when I press either of the brakes.

Before all this happened, the brake light indicator was always lit. Yet pressing the brake, front or rear, would light it in the back. I regularly had issues with the turn signals; sometimes they'd work, sometimes not. The headlamp indicator, as I recall sometimes worked, but the headlamp always was on. These issues never bothered me much.

But now they are undeniable.

 

[Jim]

Apologies if it's already been asked, but are the handlebars painted or chrome?

 

[notmoving]

Like Mick sang, it's painted black..

 

[gggGary]

With the key on, you can open the circled connector and ground the blue white wire that goes to the solenoid, the bike should crank. your connector will look a little different. If it doesn't crank check that there is 12 volts on the red white wire next to the blue white.

 

[Jim]

Like Mick sang, it's painted black..

The starter button... Both switch housings need bare metal on the bars to work.

Starter button ground path is... right switch housing to handlebars.... across the bars... into the left switch housing..... out the black wire in the left housing and into the headlight bucket where it connects to the black ground wire in the harness.

Painted bars interrupt that path.

You'll see a metal tab inside each housing. Sand to bare metal at those points on the bars.

 

[Jim]

This tab (in both housings) provides the ground path. Both sides should be proud of the housing slightly. If not, bend 'em slightly so they are, then sand the paint off the bars where they touch.

 

[notmoving]

Thanks! I'll get to it tomorrow.

 

[5twins]

Your new switch housing has a dedicated ground wire, I can see it in your pic. But the original didn't have one and grounded through the bars as Jim explained. That black ground wire probably just isn't connected inside the headlight. I'd check that first before going through the trouble of sanding the bars.

 

[Its been a long time]

Your new switch housing has a dedicated ground wire, I can see it in your pic. But the original didn't have one and grounded through the bars as Jim explained. That black ground wire probably just isn't connected inside the headlight. I'd check that first before going through the trouble of sanding the bars.

It does indeed, well spotted. Off the starter push button. That black wire needs grounding.

 

[notmoving]

Is this right? I'm not sure how that smaller, silver tab should be placed.

I'm any regard, nothing yet from the starter switch. You say the ground wire may not be connected in the headlight. Getting at that wire doesn't look simple at all. Advice?

 

[Its been a long time]

Is this right? I'm not sure how that smaller, silver tab should be placed.

I'm any regard, nothing yet from the starter switch. You say the ground wire may not be connected in the headlight. Getting at that wire doesn't look simple at all. Advice?

That black wire needs connecting to ground at the other end of it. On XS650, black wire is always ground.

 

[notmoving]

So ..?

 

[notmoving]

I've done basic wiring in my home. But I seem to be not understanding really basic. Why does the right half of this plug not have a ground wire? The left half is connected to the starter button assembly.