Motorcycle Repair: MOTORCYCLE NOT STARTING, honda goldwing, starter solenoid

Question
I HAVE A 1976 HONDA GOLDWING GL1000 IT SAT OUTSIDE LAST YEAR RAN GOOD BEFORE LEFT OUTSIDE PUT NEW BATTERY IN TODAY HAVE POWER TO ALL LIGHTS AND HORN BUT NONE TO STARTER BUTTON. PUSH BUTTON NOTHING HAPPENS DONT TURN OVER OR ANYTHING.YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREAT.THANK YOU..

Answer
Randy, with a fully charged battery in the system, try jumping across the two starter solenoid posts with a screwdriver or something similar. If that actuates that starter motor then you have either a bad solenoid or the wiring to it has failed.

Try a test light on the primary wires going in and out of the solenoid.
If you see voltage when you press the button, the solenoid contacts or the plunger inside is hung up. On some solenoids you can remove the two screws on top and raise the contact cap to clean the inner contacts and check for movement on the central contact post.

There were issues with starter buttons back then, where the either the headlights or the starter circuit would fail, due to the switch contact pack falling apart internally.

Here's a good resource for GL1000 owners..

http://www.randakks.com/

Bill Silver