1981 cb750k starting issue.

Posted by barelycompetent on
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/1981-cb750k-starting-issue-tp4037064.html

Hi all, brand new to the forum and I have tried to search the forum to see if anyone else has had the problem Im having but I havent had any luck finding information. I do apologize right off the bat if this question has been asked and answered before and I missed it in my search.  So here goes, I have a 1981 cb750k that was running when I bought it.  Over the course of the last two months I have been tearing it down and converting it into a cafe racer, however I have not had to do anything with the wiring so that is all stock.  My bike was starting and running until one day I was cranking on it to start it, and I let off the starter button, and when I hit the button again nothing.  No click from the solenoid, nothing.  All of the lights and indicators came on, neutral light, oil light, headlight, and when I pushed the starter button the headlight went out as its supposed to, but again I got no click from the solenoid and not a peep from the starter.  I laid a screw driver across the solenoid and the starter fired right up.  I assumed then that it must be the solenoid, so I found a replacement(only 10 bucks so Im not out that much) put the new solenoid in, making sure to hook the wires up as they were on the old one, turned the key, all lights on, hit the starter button and once again nothing.  No click from the solenoid and no starter.  Jumped it across the solenoid and bang the starter fired.  I guess its possible I could have gotten a bad starter solenoid, but I dont know.    My question is, where do I look, and go from here?  I have read somewhere that the connections on the ignition switch can sometimes be intermittent so I checked those and cleaned them with wd40, reconnected them and still the same results.  Could it be possible that the kill switch is to blame?  Its in the run position when I am trying this but if the switch itself is bad it might not be making contact.  Has anyone else ever had this problem?  Any help is greatly appreciated as its starting to warm up in my neck of the woods and the riding but is starting to bite again!  Again if this question has already been asked I apologize for asking again, and if you could point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it!  Thanks in advance!