it starts when you lay a screwdriver across the screw connectors on the starter relay.

took the handlebar switch apart last night and cleaned it out.
both fuses were fine(checked them with a multimeter to be sure).

sunny wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


Since you can start the bike with a screw driver, then the connection from the relay to the starter and to ground is okay.  You also have +12 on the relay, so forget about that.

What is missing is the circuit on the B/W and Y/B wires.  Those 2 wires plus a B wire are in a 3 wire connector to the relay.  Those 2 wires do what your screw driver does.

You say that you hear nothing, right?  No clicks?  That means that the Decompression Solenoid isn't working either.  Did you try this with the side stand down and clutch lever pulled in, or with the side stand up and clutch lever pulled in?

You do have a green nuetral light, right?  Is the little blue wire below the clutch lever on the right rear side of the engine case okay?  That wire goes up under the tank, and since you pulled out the airbox, I'd also look at that because it was behind the airbox.

The Y/B wire comes from the Decompression Module which is right above the carb under the seat.  That is where I would start and work backwards.  What puts power on the Y/B wire to energize the starter relay is the Y/G wire (notice different color) which comes from the starter button....and also goes through the clutch lever switch.  Check the connector on the clutch lever.  If you need to, pull the connector off and put a small jumper across that and check again.

If you still can't get it to start, pull the tank.  Then go into the Technical Corner and get the electrical schematics.   That is what I am looking at now.  Something has happened to either the positive supply side to the Decompression module, or to B/W negative ground side which goes through the side stand relay, side stand switch, and the side stand diode.  Since the fuses are okay, you have a disconnected wire somewhere.

sunny wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


Money isn't needed.  You have a handy dandy multimeter and schematics

Step one....with the ignition key ON, do you have 12 volts on one side of the starter button?

Step two....if step one is yes, do you have 12 volts at the clutch lever switch when you push the starter button?

Step three....if one and two are yes, do you have 12 volts at the yellow/green wire on the connector at the decomp module?

Do all these checks using the red lead and with the black lead connected to the frame somewhere.

Why do  battery test?...you jumped it with a screw driver and the lights and horn work, anyway.

slavy wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


You are right...the B/W is ground, but Sunny said there was "no click" and in reality there should be 2 simultaneous ones.  One for the decomp solenoid followed quickly by the relay.  Since she has none, the problem probably isn't the starter relay.  She isn't getting 12 volts to the decomp module....and the Y/B wire to the relay comes from that module.

We are beginning to repeat, I think  

Cool.  Just work that Handy Dandy Multimeter and go get 'em

ok. the final result is that it runs.

two friends came over while i was on an errand and looked it over. they disconnected all the electrics and reconnected everything. then took the key from the kids and it started right up. they have no clue and neither do i.

dave, an aircraft mech, said the electrics were far too complicated to be on such a simple bike. he offered to create and send me a simplified wiring diagram. i may take him up on that offer, if just for future use. if so i will also offer it to you all.

but for now i am SO not going to look this gift horse in the mouth.