Motorcycle Repair: Wont start, bill silver, cb900

Question
Hey there,
I have a CB900 Honda 1981 that I just bought in hopes of getting running. (It ran not too long ago). The first problem I want to solve is that when I put the switch to on, the lights come on; they should, the battery is brand new. When I press the start button, it clicks, but everything goes off.

any ideas? Thanks!

Answer
Craig, check the ignition switch base connector. They often fail over time, giving a rather weak connection to the electrical system.

When you press the starter switch, the running lights on the turn signals are supposed to go off momentarily.

If everything goes off and stays off, either the switch base is loose/broken or you have a short in the electrical system. Check all the fuses and troubleshoot the cause, based on which fuse has blown.

Try wiggling the forks back and forth when the switch is on and you may see the lights flash on and off from the wiring harness connector wiggling the switch base back and forth.

Bill Silver