I have been having this same issue with my 1983 550 NH, in spite of taking it all over the state and generally having a blast. Yes, it starts every time in 3rd with a minimal rolling and clutch popping (a push-start).
*Here is what I know and have done.* It does this in winter or summer and last winter would do it intermittently in the morning or when coming out to ride home from work (cold and dark). It will begin to backfire quietly indicating we are getting fuel and after a while it will let out a big backfire (to let everyone know you are trying to start your old junky bike). Currently it does this after sitting for a few minutes hot, and is still hot from riding, but not regularly. After reading this I decided to take the battery to the beloved Batteries Plus guys who tested it and said it is well within its specifications for cranking amps. I have done the other basic battery maint, like water levels and making sure the connections are clean and good conductors. I have also applied a rebuild to the starter. My neighbor works for a commercial alternator/starter maintenance company. He just brings me the rebuild kit. I have not replaced the starter totally; it works without hesitation, shows no signs of weakening and starts the bike (most of the time) etc. Now last weekend, just before starting up to go on a short ride, I turned the key and got nothing. I thought it was dead because I left the key in the "kill my battery" position. After a couple of hours of tearing into it I found bad ignition contacts (I won't go into that unless someone asks). After cleaning, lubrication and reassembling the ignition my wife said that the tail light was brighter. I was excited to hear this as I thought it was an indicator that we had finally found the problem. *... But it still happens.* I have found that about half the time it will start if I do a quick tapping of the start switch, only enough to turn it over a split second. Tap, tap, tap, then it will suddenly be running, slowly, quietly and smoothly. One time this week, while I was having the problem, I removed a plug wire and held it near enough to have heard the spark jump across the gap, or give me a jolt. Neither happened. It immediately started up in 3rd gear push-start, again, and I did not look stupid/helpless for long at all. For some reason it just stops delivering spark when cranking. The start switch does two things; it opens up the circuit to the headlight and closes the contacts to engage the solenoid. Best I can tell, both contacts are working. The headlight goes out and the solenoid is engaged. *... But it still happens.* It is irritating, and I still have little to go on, but that is what mine is doing. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
