New starter, and starter solenoid but still won’t turn over?

I have a 1985 vf500. I bought a starter, and a starter solenoid but it still won’t turn over. When I try to starter it, it dims the lights on the gauge cluster. I don’t know what else could cause it. If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

When you press the starter button, the current should pass through the solenoid and then to ground either through the neutral switch on the gearbox, or the clutch switch (pulled in) at the handlebar. You could put a jumper cable from the solenoid to any earth point to bypass those devices. If you are not hearing the solenoid click when you push the button, then you may not have any current through the starter button.
The dimming lights are probably normal, starter buttons usually cut the power to the headlights to leave as much battery oomph as possible for the starter.

 

obviously u don't no much. replacing parts without understanding and testing each component = a waste of money. starters almost never fail same w solenoids so must be something else. both are ez to test.

maybe the engine seized ?? when dd she run last ?

try pushing n gear or turning crank w wrench.

battery's always a suspect.

 

Yep, DO NOT just blindly shotgun piles of new parts at bike hoping it'll hit something. You'll end up replacing perfectly working parts with brand-new perfectly working parts and nothing changes! You'll end up with tonnes of extra spares you won't ever need; thus wasting tonnes of time and money. First, TEST parts by measuring them. Those numbers will tell you if they're good or bad. THEN buy replacements if they truly are bad.

TEST BATTERY
1. Measure voltage of battery at rest. What is voltage?
2. Measure voltage of battery while cranking. What is voltage?
Bad, low battery can be re-charged. Put on smart trickle-charger for 24-hrs and re-test. What's new voltages?

TEST STARTER
1. remove starter
2. using jumper-cables, connect +12v terminal to +12v of battery
3. hold starter firmly, connect negative cable to negative of battery and touch other end to case of starter
Does starter spin? If so, it's good

TEST WIRING, SWITCHES & SOLENOID
key ON
1. What is voltage going into input of start-button?
2. What is voltage going into input of starter-solenoid?
push START button
3. What is voltage going out of start-button?
4. What is voltage going into trigger-coil of starter-solenoid?

These tests will tell you exactly where problem is and what to do to fix it. Without buying any replacement parts.

Most likely culprit in this case is dead battery that needs to be re-charged!

 

Brent,

A couple of questions:

1. What does the oil look like? Has it been changed recently? If not, change it before trying to start the bike. See #2.
2. Pull the plugs and see what condition they are in. Squirt some oil in the chamber, attempt to manually turn the crankshaft and see if there is a significant resistance.
3. If you turned the crankshaft and the plugs look somewhat normal, I'd look at the previous response regarding starter troubleshooting.

I had a VF500F as a first bike. Wonderful machine-I hope you are able to get it running. Those bikes are totally worth the trouble IMHO.