Gs850

Someone gave me a non running 1981 Suzuki GS850 that seems to have electrical problems only (or so the owner said) It was running then wouldn't re-start. I hate to go out and buy a manual without at least hearing it fire up and know i actually have something to work with. When I got it everything was dead, no lights nothing. I cleaned a lot of ground wires and checked any visible possible shorts, cleaned all the fuses in the holder. The battery is shot so I put a set of jumper cable to my van and the lights came on, the hornblew, blinkers worked so thants a step in on direction. But it was nada on any engine cranking. I couldn't find a main fuse like a bar fuse that may have been blown but I am assuming whatever is bad affects engine cranking only anyway. Any GS owners know of any quirks that may have me shut down or any part that is inherent with going bad on this series of bike. The bike is real clean and if it fires and I know the engine runs i'd really like to rebuild it, so any help would be appreciated.
I just had an 05 C-50 Boulevard I was working on and it had a diode in the ignition switch that was impossible to over ride when the switch went bad and the only way to get it running again was a new switch, this bike is older and i'm hoping it doesn't have anything like that going on.
Al

Those are good bikes. As with many older bikes, the electrical connections are less than ideal. I'd put in a KNOWN good battery and start checking. The charging system (reg/rectifier especially) is suspect. If the starter is a problem,let me know and I'll try to hunt down this guys website who is aces with old bike starters. Good Luck! RJ

PS You may want to check out WWW.THEGSRESOURCES.COM

I cleaned all the electrical connections including the starter button contact surfaces. I put jumper cables from the car and it fired right up after 2 or 3 cranks. Unbelievable. So the connections were the key and you hit the nail on the head. I've got an oil leak to contend with and something that looks like a vacuum line coming off the carb and its ready to roll.
Thanks

Check your safety switches. If your bike has it like my '83, You have to hold the clutch lever, check you nuteral safety switch and kick stand has a safety switch. There maybe more I don't remember off hand. Your best off buying a book and find out for yourself, rather than listening to people who might not really know what their talking about.

I just baught one recently. The guy started it for me, ran it for awhile, then it stalled. Checked the lights and the bike. Great shape for the year. Took it home and put a battery in it - nothing worked. Checked the wiring diagram, chased wires and switches for days. Baught parts(electrical) put them on and still nothing, unless I jumped the starter relay. It would fire up , backfire than stall.

Two weeks chasing wires asking questions, I broght it to a back yard mechanic and left it with him for a week. Her got it running with a flick of a button. Charged me $220, which I think it was worth while after the parts and the headache from fallowing wires.