Motorcycle Repair: Virago wont start after stalling, starter motor problems, virago 535

Question
Hi Chris,
I recently got my 1996 Virago 535 running again after sitting for a year.  I replaced the battery and cleaned the carbs.  It starts fine hot or cold with one exception.  If I stall, say from a stop at a light, the starter won't turn over the engine.  It's as if the batter suddenly died, but lights, horn, etc. are fine.  I can get it started with a recharge or popping the clutch on a steep downhill.  What do you think?

Answer
Hi Rick.
 The Virago series has always been plagued with starter motor problems.  9 times out of 10 it is simply a matter of pulling the starter taking it apart and cleaning the contacts.  I did it so often on my XV700 that I could do it in 20 minutes from start to finish.

You will need to clean the contacts in the starter motor.  Use a small piece of thousand grit sand paper and lightly sand the contact points on the armature and the brushes.  That should solve the problem for a few thousand miles.

 In addition, just to be on the safe side, check the starter circuit for shorts, everywhere from the battery to the starter motor.

Let me know how it goes.
Good luck.
FALCON