82 Maxim 750. No crank. No spark.

Did a very short trip at lunch to the hardware store, 2 minute drive. 10 minutes in the store, get on the bike and Nothing. (20 minute push back to work).

No digital display on the Atari.
No crank. Neutral light and headlight light up properly.
When I push the starter button nothing happens except the digital display starts working. Stops working as soon as I release the starter button.
Jumped the starter relay on the right side and the engine cranks but I have no spark. When I toggle the kill switch I can feel the relay on the right clicking.

I plan on looking through my wiring diagrams if I ever make it home tonight but was hoping someone might have a shortcut or two or just some good advice on where to start looking.

Thanks

.

 

Check out the fuse box, factory fuse boxes are a known problem area.

 

Fuses, check and make sure your side stand (and clutch, if present) switches are working correctly. Try bypassing the various safety relays to help locate the problem. Note that the headlight should go out when you press the start button, that's intended behaviour.

 

The clutch lever wire has been broken for ages. Is there a neutral switch on the engine somewhere?

 

Also the ignition switch itself may not be making good contact

 

Yes - I don't have my book handy, so I'm not sure exactly where it is at the moment however. There is also the side stand switch, which is a common problem and disables ignition.

 

Isn't there a wire, who's color escapes me at the moment, that you can disconnect at the TCI which will eliminate any possibility of it being grounded out by the safety system? That would at least tell him if it was related to the safety system in general?

 

Black with white trace on the six pin connector on the xj550........may be the same on the 750.....not sure where my diagram is at the moment

 

Maybe a dead battery?or loose battery cable

 

First thing I checked.

Brought my wiring diagram to work today. Now the fun begins!
Would it be safe to assume since the green neutral light is on that switch is working? Save it for the last thing to check?

 

Whew!
Thanks for the shortcuts guys!
Checked the sidestand switch first.
Connector is located just behind starter relay under the right side panel. Three wire connector. Wire colours are Light blue/Yellow. Black. Green/Light blue
Disconnected it and bike starts right up!
Diagnosis complete.
Corrosion in connector.
Some terminal cleaner and dose of dielectric grease and done.

 

I suspect not, but hope so. Disconnecting the side stand switch will disable the ignition on a stock bike unless it is in neutral.

Indicates a poor connection (excessive resistance) on either the low or high side or a weak battery.

B/W wire to TCI is ignition cutoff only. It will not affect starting circuit.

Not necessarily, could be resistive and can only power low current sources. It's an easy check, just turn the key on and check power at the fuses. Start at the main fuse to be sure the source (battery, connections, etc.) are good. Then check the other 3 fuses both input and output to be sure they all read 12V.

 

Once the connector was cleaned, greased and reconnected the bike starts.

I am calling this one a win.

 

Now that I think more about it.
You are correct Rooster.
In neutral even with the side stand down that does not impede the starter circuit. What most likely happened was I jossled the small red wire that runs from the starter relay to the fuse panel. I had voltage at the fuses but a poor connection in the connector probably prevented sufficient current to pass through.
I took the time to clean and protect all the connectors in that area just to be thorough.