HELP -
Okay, I hadn't ridden my 1985 K100RT in about a month. This Saturday is the charity Toy Run for our town. So I went out and hooked up my battery charger to make sure the bike was ready.

Wow: turned the key, and the dash lights were bright. So I punched the starter button. Got a grunt from the starter, but no start. Waited a minute. Punched the starter button again, got a 'grunt' from the starter... and then nothing. Lights out on the dash (no neutral light, warning lights, nothing.)

Pulled and checked all the fuses under the left side cover... they're all fine.

What did I screw up? What is blown? Is there a secret fuse somewhere? I can understand if the starter won't crank due to low voltage, but this is something else.

PLEASE HELP - the Toy Run for charity is in 2 days. Where should I start? Anybody have a problem similar to this? THANK YOU! direct email = badjerjim@gmail.com

I would take the battery out and have it checked at a battery place. Quite often a battery will show fulled charged and will power small lights but doesn't have enough charge under load. The battery people will check the voltage and then place it under load...different story, it may only have a few volts under load. That way if you need a replacement battery, you are in the right place to save time. Hint, ask them to get a replacement for your battery.....not for a BMW. Once BMW is mentioned the price goes up. Good luck.

This is certainly a problem with your starter. First thing to try: put the bike in second or third gear then push the bike for a foot or 2 (back and forth). This will move your starter rotor to another position. Do this with the ignition ON and see if you get the lights working again.
If the lights are working again, the best thing to do is to remove the starter (only 2 screws) and clean it.
If the brushes are bad, the starter won't work and the load shed relay won't be activated.
Check the circuit of the load shed relay Here. Click on the top tab "starter"

Rob has posted a very good tutorial on cleaning the starter (Check this)

Crazy Frog - THANK YOU
Your diagnosis makes sense. I will try that and let you know.

Again: big thanks to this forum and all who participate.

Just don't claim victory too fast even if I am confident that your problem is the starter.
You may not even have to open it right now. If pushing the bike back and forth once works, it will work again.
This is a good winter project!
Good luck buddy (Hey he's not an Aussie and I cannot call him 'Mate')

Crazy Frog wrote:Good luck buddy (Hey he's not an Aussie and I cannot call him 'Mate')

touche bert

good luck jim

A mate is a mate, doesn't matter what country he's from.

Yes you'r right buddy!

Crazy Frog you may be a buddy, but you are also a mate....dual citizenship!