Ok, in Need of Help

I been on this board before but i can't for the life of me remember the username and password for it though!

But this is my problem i have a 1982 Yamaha Maxim xj550

The bike is not starting... not even trying to turn over i push the button, NOTHING what so ever..
Went and got the battery checked, fine no problem, fresh gas nothing..
Im lost.. My dad says check the fuses but im not sure i know how to make sure they are ok, (if you got advice for that WONDERFUL!)
Im trying to think of what other info i could give you..
Before you say anything, i will be cleaning the carbs, i just was hoping i could get it down to my station before i dive into that one.

I put in new spark plugs, all electric works (meaning lights) but im not sure what to do..
Any advice??

 

Fuses are under the seat. They are "blade" style, clear plastic. You can look through them and see if the metal element has a break in it. It should be a single metal piece without a break.

If the starter doesn't even turn, but the battery is charged, make sure your "run" switch is ON, then check your starter battery connections

 

pop the fuses out one at a time & put a meter across the ends, check for continuity, if all ok, make sure the connections to the battery are clean & tight, also the earth connection. If all this is ok, cross the 2 terminals of the starter relay with a screwdriver, see if the starter spins.

 

When rebuilding my friend's 82' Maxim we found a lot of problems with our starting system.

1) Like sushi and wizard said, check your fuses and all your connections. Clean the connections off with a file or some coarse sand paper. Don't be afraid to really get in there and make them nice and shiny.

a) as a side note, check to make sure your kill switch is working properly

2) Check your relays. The starter relay should be a little gold box sitting above the ends of the airbox under the gas tank (probably bound to the frame by some rubber)

3) Check your solenoid. The solenoid should be the black, cylindrical device right behind the battery. When you push the start button you should hear an audible click from this device. If it does not click, you either have a bad connection, or a bad solenoid.

4) Anything beyond this and you may be looking at a whole new starter motor. 8O


Hope that helps some!

 

try pop starting it to get to your station?

 

Your bike has a safety relay system that will not allow it to start in gear with the sidestand down. (It won't even let it turn over.) It has to be in neutral or the clutch pulled in. A problem with -the sidestand switch -the sidestand relay -the neutral switch -the clutch switch -the safety relay itself or any of the associated wiring will cause this problem as will a fusebox problem. If there is a problem such that the bike "thinks" it's in gear and/or the sidestand is down it won't even spin. Begin by ensuring the "neutral" light is on AND the sidestand is up, just to see what happens.

 

HOW TO: Test your starter circuit

 

no its in neutral... and i know how to start my bike so yes its ON
I'll check the fuses tomorrow (gotta go to the station to borrow the meter reader from there)
and rubikscube i'll do what you said and try that.. god i hope i don't need to buy completely new parts.. i want to avoid spending large amount of money...

Thanks everyone! i'll try those and see where that puts me tomorrow!

 

Follow Gamuru's "how-to" above step by step and you'll solve it. Doubt it's the starter itself.

 

FYI,
I scored a used starter on ebay for $23 shipped. I ripped it apart to inspect it and was SHOCKED to see how bad my starter really was.