1981 Yamaha XV750 starting problem

[tourist76]

Just had the bike in a workshop in Hamilton, now back in Auckland and the bugger wount start.
Hamilton Motorcycle Centre in Te Rapa replaced the head bearing which included disassembling the forks. Fired up and rode back to Auckland. Fired up and killed it all of about 3-4 times since getting it back from the workshop.
Yesterday it didnt want to start but fired up finally. Today its completely not responding....

Simptoms: When the key is turned, Neutral lights up and the correct relay click can be heard. However the kill switch on the RH control doesnt make that clicking noise it used to, subsequently when the start button is pushed nothing happens. Push starting proved also useless.

Checks done: Checked fuses all over, Lifted the seat and checked for signs of shorted out cables (that I can see), checked the inside of the RH control.

Ideas to test: Starter relay and starting circuit relay to test with Ohmeter.

[fatboyzed]

I had an xv400, sometimes it would sound like the battery was dead.
I found the starter motor front seal would leak and oil would leak into it.
New seal, and away we would go, think i changed it about once a year (about $8.00 + time) each time.

[Subike]

the early VX serries of bikes are known to have starter problems
A pity, most of them were OK bikes.
There are 4 pole starters available from the stated that cure the problem of the
""It just clicks when I hit the starter" problem associated to these bikes

[tourist76]

the issue is not the starter, that turns over fine when I bypass (screwdriver over the terminals) the coil. the battery is also OK. took the right hand controls appart including the kill switch and the start button and they checked out fine. cant even push start it... grr

any ideas?

[Grumph]

As you say your issue appears to be electrical rather than the more common mechanical starting issues.

I note the steering head bearings have been replaced - check inside the headlight shell for any connections which may be apart or not fully engaged as this area would have been disturbed during this work.
Secondly check the kill switch for continuity - failure here is fairly common.

[tourist76]

checked all the above+ starter coil, starter relay, starting circuit relay, switch on the handlebar, headlight innards. called up motorbike mechanics to come over and have a tinker. the weather is too nice not to ride. will post the results of the mechanics report here.

[tourist76]

George from Motorcycle Doctors (mobile mechanic) came around, competent, punctual and polite. It took an hour to find that the plate inside the fuse box (located under the light) had been cracked thus causing the bike not to fire-up.
On the day electrical troubles started the headlight and the wiring was pulled off by Hamilton Motorcycle Centre in order to replace the head bearing. I contacted the Hamilton Motorcycle Centre today about refunding the 1hour labour cost but they didn't want to know me any more :-)
SO having paid them around $600 for tyres and the head bearing I'm now left wondering if the bike ever needed the head bearing job done.

Oh well they will not be seeing my money or that of my friends, a bit short sighted I recon but guess times are tough and only the best survive. Motorcycle Doctors said they'll beat any price quote on tyres, I'm going to be getting lubricants cheaper than store price from them. so yep, new mechanic bye bye Hamilton Motorcycle Centre