Starter motor spins on the button then clicksin.

[excess.11]

Good call on checking the oil Errol ......to help solve this riddle......although if anyone had guessed the "comedy of errors" that you found Coops .....I d be making an appointment for a "psychic reading" with them on what the next lot of tattslotto numbers will be.

[Eveready1100]

That's great news, Coops.
Let us know how you get on after getting a few k's of hotmix under the wheels!

[Cooper]

Found the prob when I took carbies off to rebuild I had a sticking needle and seat which allowed fuel to run into cylinder unbeknown to me , the fuel cock was in prime posi. This diluted the oil. When the  carbies were  reinstalled  that's when I tried starting it. When I drained the old oil it was a mess  the bike had been standing for a along time. Have put in new oil mineral Penrite 10.30 and will change it again before I register it. So far it starts on the button.  The ole girls like mineral oil and as you say Errol not the slippery stuff Thanks Coops

[Cooper]

Thanks guys for replies, starter motor has been cleaned brushes are good  and bench test OK. Electric side of things Battery is new ie solenoid earthing etc OK volts good. One thing that has come to mind is the bike has been a long time standing. I have put some new oil in and the old oil that came out was crap. just bench run but I recall a bmw have similar probs on identical setup K100's.if oil is old and dirty. Before I go anywhere balistic  I might do what Errol has suggested re oil changes. I'll do that first once I get it approved and registered and then see what transpires once it has had a decent run. many thanks Coops.
Just on runs is the next annual meet going to be Broadford ?

[Eveready1100]

Coops, after doing the checks that Jeff has suggested and eliminated either the starter motor itself, or the battery from the equation, and then proceeding in the direction that Jonesey has pointed out to you (helpful bunch, aren't we?) , is this bike a rider, or one you're rescuing from a long sleep??
Have to ask that as the starter clutch assembly can be affected by the use of the wrong type of oil in the motor, similar to the main clutch basket. If the motor's been treated to some whizzbang techy friction modifed oil, it can prevent the rollers in the starter clutch from biting on the outer walls of the hub, making the starter motor spin uselessly.
I'm not saying this is the problem, I'm just saying that it has happened to others in the past, and if so, can be rectified by a couple of oil changes to flush the too-slippery stuff out of the motor.
I'd definitely give this a try first, before looking at splitting the cases.

[excess.11]

Just checked through the book on how to service/replace the starter clutch 
If it was an "E" model standard.........I d permanently install a kick start lever.
"May the Force be with you"

[Jonesy :-)]

sounds like a starter clutch problem, there are 3 little spring loaded rollers that grab onto the crank shaft and turn it over to start, there are rather fine tolerances on these rollers between being effective and slipping, like your problem, they get flat spots on 'em over time and get worse. persevere for as long as you can... the fix is to split the cases and get right down to the crank to replace the balls. I think Christians bike is or was undergoing surgery for the same reason? A previous XS I owned suffered this problem at around 160,000km's

[excess.11]

Coops........you have to break down the problem. First remove the starter motor from the bike and check it s operation using some jumper leads and a car battery.
If it all works fine away from the bike...........you have starter solenoid /voltage  or wiring connection problems.
If it faults on the bench test........ start with removing and replacing brushes or go the whole hog and disassemble and clean the commutator and check bearings ,starter clutch etc.
Just beacause the battery voltage tests ok......it does nt mean the battery will handle the load when the starter is engaged.
You could use some jumper leads to a car battery to eliminate the bike battery as being faulty.
When starting the bike......check the voltage at the battery when cranking it....as that's the test result you need to know.

[Cooper]

Hello all just a little prob on my 81 RH .push starter button the starter motor spins then clicks in. Maybe three times  and it starts as normal. Now for those that have been down this road could it be starter gear prob or something else. The solenoid seems to be OK battery fully charged. By holding clutch in does that do anything when starting or could that be shortening out. Coops