New 700S. Guess why it wouldn't start!

[Brittles]

Road down to Virginia Beach last weekend and picked-up a 1985 CB700 for $400. It's a little rough around the edges and wasn't running, but for the money I wasn't too worried. Turn the key on, hit the starter button and nothing.

So I got out the service manual and commenced checking things related to the starting system...

Charged battery and it tested ok. Put it back in the bike and made sure leads were secure.
Took out the 15A ignition fuse, cleaned contacts, inspected fuse and replaced. Hit starter button. Nothing.
Tested starter = ok
Tested starter solenoid after replacing blown fuse = ok (I'm thinking this has got to be my problem....NOT)
Tested clutch safety switch = ok
Pulled ground wires, cleaned/scuffed, replaced. Still nothing..
Tested starter button = ok
Tested clutch diode = ok
Tested ignition switch = ok

So I'm scratching my head, at my wits end, and decide to sleep on it. The next morning I remembered reading something here on the forum. Can't remember who posted it, but thanks a ton because after doing that the bike fired to life on the first try. 

Anyone care to guess what it was?







 

[Brumbie13]

Put the Kill switch in "run" ???

 

[Brittles]

Put the Kill switch in "run" ???

  .....no, wasn't that. This bike wouldn't even turn over, no click. The 700S will turn over with the kill switch on, it just won't spark.

[hppants]

 

BTW - the edges I see in the pics don't look to rough to me.

[coffee_brake]

Sidestand lockout switch?

[highwayjamin]

All the good guess are gone,but how in the heck do you find a bike like that for $400    I never luck into any deals like that  Do you have an extra one? 

[Brittles]

Sidestand lockout switch?

 .....no. No sidestand switch on the 700S.

All the good guess are gone,but how in the heck do you find a bike like that for $400

I'm telling you, it's a little rough. Look closely at the head cooling fins on the right side. Bet your bike doesn't look like that.

[gammer]

Did you put the bike in gear and rock it a bit?

[gammer]

P.S. Other then missing a few pieces, it looks like you've got a good bike to work with 
What's the millage?

[cjbear11]

Your cooling fins are chopped off a little bit arent they?

My guess is that you have a bad/dirty starter button connection?

[Brittles]

Did you put the bike in gear and rock it a bit?

No.

It was something very simple like that, but unsuspecting.

P.S. Other then missing a few pieces, it looks like you've got a good bike to work with 
What's the millage?

Odometer reads 26,xxx but the actual milage is unknown. Title says "not actual milage" so that either means it's got 126,XXX, which I kinda' doubt, or the gauges were replaced at some point in time.

Your cooling fins are chopped off a little bit arent they?

Yea, both sides. Though the left side isn't near as bad as the right.

My guess is that you have a bad/dirty starter button connection?

Nope, stater button was fine.

[Snoopy]

OH have at you..just tell us.

[B83550nighthawk]

The key was in upside down!!!  

Loose nut behind the handlebars??

 

[cjbear11]

yea, I'm out. I can't think of anything else...

[m98]

Was there a foreign object stuck behind the starter button so it would not
connect?

[Brittles]

I remembered reading a fairly recent post here on the forum about glass fuses being bad, even though they looked good. So that's what it was. The 15A ignition fuse!! That was one of the first things I checked and, in hindsight, I should have just replaced it even though it looked good (I will in the future).........lesson learned. At least this exercise was a good opportunity to check and clean many electrical connections on the bike.

[hppants]

Great job.  To be clear, the fuse looked good, but when you put a multi-meter to it, it failed a continuity test?

Anyway, how's she run?

[Brittles]

Great job.  To be clear, the fuse looked good, but when you put a multi-meter to it, it failed a continuity test?

Never tested it. Looked into the glass, metal was intact and I assumed it was ok (it's in the trash).

Anyway, how's she run?

Runs surprisingly good for a bike that's been sitting (not sure how long). Stumbles a little off idle until fully warm. Haven't been really able to run it hard as the front tire is in scary bad condition.

[gammer]

Probably just needs some sea-foam and it should run fine.
Sweet deal...

[highwayjamin]

Man I am so jealous right now  I'am glad it was an easy fix,but I'am still really upset about the deal you got.  One day I would like to come across a bike/deal just like you.  Great find,and keep us updated.

[Brittles]

It still needs some work.

[fishball]

What a great deal.  Good job figuring out the problem as well.  I think the bike looks great, especially for $400.

[gammer]

Brittle's msg me if you are looking for any of the missing parts off that bike...

[Brittles]

Brittle's msg me if you are looking for any of the missing parts off that bike...

Thanks gammer. I have a list! 

[Munkey]

Brittle's msg me if you are looking for any of the missing parts off that bike...

Thanks gammer. I have a list! 

I notice that you're missing the little cover down by the shifter that covers the clutch slave cylinder. I was missing the same thing. Just as a heads up, you can get a new one shipped from cheapcycleparts.com cheaper than what most people on eBay want for their crappy old greasy used ones. I almost bought a couple off eBay before I discovered this.