Motorcycle Repair: easier fix than removing stator cover, starter clutch, starter button

Question
Christopher,

  I just bought an 81 Suzuki GS650G that has sat for the last 2 years (in a garage). I spent the weekend ringing-out all the electrical problems. Now the starter gets juice when i hit the starter button but it won't crank the engine even with the plugs pulled. I have taken teh starter out and run it off the bike, it's okay. Also the battery is good. Before I get realy crazy and pull the stator cover is there anything tricks to un-sticking the starter clutch? It it the starter clutch that is stuck? Thanks.


R/ Bill

Answer
Hi Bill.

Well, one thing that comes to mind is if the battery is the one that you had in the bike when it was set in storage?  If so, then replace it.  I can almost guarantee that the battery has one or more bad cells.  That means that, while it has juice to turn the starter a little, it is not enough to turn the bike over.

Another thing that comes to mind is the possibility that the pistons have rusted in place from sitting and possibly not being set up properly for storage.  Try to manually turn the engine with a wrench on the crankshaft (just as if you were doing the valve gap and timing).  If it refuses to turn, then the pistons are frozen and the pistons and cylinders need to be worked on.

Start with those and see what happens.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON