leblank
XS400 New Member
Hi All,
This is my first post to the forum, although i've been reading and researching this site every night all summer
. An amazing motorbike community! I live on Vancouver Island in Canada, and I picked up a 1981 xs400 Special about 2 months ago. I have slowly been working on a tracker/cafe type rebuild, although it does not look like much yet! It is my first bike and first project and I have been immediately hooked on it.
I have run into my first big road block...but first a little more about the bike. It has been running consistently since I've owned it, although it has its share of issues...it has always been able to start. I recently changed the turn signal/horn control to a universal switch as the old one was broken. I also replaced the right switch to match, and then came my problem.
Everything on the left hand switch works fine (turn/horn/lights). I was having issues with the kill switch, and so decided to bypass it by connecting the pair of red and white wires together. I wired up the new start button no problem, but now when i try to start it, the starter just keeps trying but it won't start.
I have read through tons of posts but can't seem to find anything directly related. I do have the electric diagram, but everything seems fine
....although obviously it isn't.
It's now been not running for 2 weeks and i'm going crazy not being able to ride for these last few weeks of the season. My instinct is i screwed up something with the kill switch, as it sounds so close to firing but won't. Just checked for spark and i don't have any.
To recap, electric starter seems fine, but no spark and won't start. I didn't mess with any of the actual ignition components, and it all worked fine up until i changed the kill/start switch. Any input would be greatly appreciated, I am not sure how to correctly diagnose
This is my first post to the forum, although i've been reading and researching this site every night all summer
. An amazing motorbike community! I live on Vancouver Island in Canada, and I picked up a 1981 xs400 Special about 2 months ago. I have slowly been working on a tracker/cafe type rebuild, although it does not look like much yet! It is my first bike and first project and I have been immediately hooked on it. I have run into my first big road block...but first a little more about the bike. It has been running consistently since I've owned it, although it has its share of issues...it has always been able to start. I recently changed the turn signal/horn control to a universal switch as the old one was broken. I also replaced the right switch to match, and then came my problem.
Everything on the left hand switch works fine (turn/horn/lights). I was having issues with the kill switch, and so decided to bypass it by connecting the pair of red and white wires together. I wired up the new start button no problem, but now when i try to start it, the starter just keeps trying but it won't start.
I have read through tons of posts but can't seem to find anything directly related. I do have the electric diagram, but everything seems fine
....although obviously it isn't. It's now been not running for 2 weeks and i'm going crazy not being able to ride for these last few weeks of the season. My instinct is i screwed up something with the kill switch, as it sounds so close to firing but won't. Just checked for spark and i don't have any.
To recap, electric starter seems fine, but no spark and won't start. I didn't mess with any of the actual ignition components, and it all worked fine up until i changed the kill/start switch. Any input would be greatly appreciated, I am not sure how to correctly diagnose
