XJ650 SECA WONT START

Been running thro winter, but battery went too flat, so recharged recently.
Installed battery back on, nice bright ignition light - pressed start - NOTHING, - just a click each time I press starter?

Think starter motor is stuck or something, did this before, and when I put it in gear, and rocked it back and forth (to manually turn over motor), it used to do the trick, but this time, no luck.

It used to make the noise sometimes, when there is sludge or something in the starter motor, and it squealed a bit, but the motor wont even turn over now.

Any ideas for solution, much appreciated....

Regs.

 

Provided the battery is definitely OK & showing about 12.65v....

See the starter solenoid, round thing next to battery with the 2 big wires bolted to the terminals? This is what clicks & you can test if it's this (more likely) or the starter by taking a big (old) screwdriver, ensuring you are in neutral, and shorting the 2 bolts together (lots of sparks!) and seeing if the starter turns then. If the starter turns when you do it, it's the solenoid. If not, it's either the starter or wiring.

My money's on the solenoid or battery not really being OK
EDIT-: Hey, you're only 30 odd miles away!!!!

 

I bet your battery is gone.

Dave F

 

You can always jump the starter directly to a good battery or a something like a 50amp cold starter. That's how I make sure project bikes don't have siezed engines or bad starters...

 

Battery is fine - checked spotlamp which is wired directly from it, briefly - blazing white light. Nothing wrong there - shown fully charged from trickle charge battery for 24 hours. Horns, indicators, lights, all work fine.
I'll try that test with screwdriver, but sent for new solenoid anyway.
Don't know how to test starter motor idependently from spare battery whatever, apart from taking old one off and wiring other battery up the same way.....?
Regs......

 

To test the starter with another battery, you need booster cables. Clamp the red cable to the positive post of the battery and the positive post of the starter. Clamp the black cable to the negative post of the battery and to the frame or the engine block (to have a good ground). Make sure you're in neutral before, because the starter will start spininng as soon as you clamp the second cable.