Started her up today, and the engine turned over, but it felt a bit labored, even though it felt eager to start (and actually did). I haven't tested battery yet, but I charged it up a few weeks back. Started fine once warm. Not a hint of anything for the rest of the day. Assuming battery checks out tomorrow, anything else I should be watching out for?
Thanks.

Make sure you have a good battery, if not when you press the start button the contacts of the start relay weld shut and the only to stop the engine turning is to disconnect the battery, What happens is that because the voltage is low the starter turns slower than normal and so draws more current and that in turn heats the contacts and then you need a new battery and a starter relay.

I hear that! Thats first on the list tomorrow. Battery should be holding what, about 13.2v from cold?

Try to measure the voltage when the starter is turning, it should go no lower than 11.2 volts, or very close to that. A brand new full charge will probably only drop to 12v.

Guess what, Rick G....it happened just like you said!!
New battery and relay needed!

Guess what, Rick G....it happened just like you said!!
New battery and relay needed! Can the relay be fettled, or is it dead and gone?

If the contacts can be cleaned up it's worth keeping for a spare. There are 2 contacts and one set closes a bit before the other set but if one set has melted and fallen into a puddle then feed it to the garbage tin.

I'll dig it out and have a look.....

I have a Odyssey PC680 on my old R65. Would that fit my K75 correctly?

It would probably have the capacity to start it so if the dimensions are same use it. The battery in my old R80RT was the same as in the K100. The height is the main thing if that is out the overflow container for the cooling system wont stay in place because the hold down clamp for the battery also holds the container.

Sorry about the blurry image, but the contacts have not welded. I unhooked the battery sharpish as soon as it carried on turning over; looks like I may have saved the relay.

I found some other archived images of a starter relay, but mine only seems to have one set of contacts.....I thought there were two?

Hmm, mine was plastic and could not be disassembled like that. I have seen relays with metal covers that could be removed on twins, but so far never on a K. Lucky you. I had to replace mine. Kind of exciting trying to disconnect the ground from the gearbox case as sparks fly and the engine continues to crank. I would touch a file to the contacts before buttoning the relay back together.

Yeah, I gave them some time with some wet & dry paper. There was evidence of burning, but more on one side of the outer races. I've got a replacement relay on its way from motorworks, so I'll keep this as a spare. Still trying to work out why its got only on set of contacts.

It is not OEM there are several relays that look the same on the outside. The originals have two sets of contacts one set closes before the other. It's supposed to prevent arcing at the contacts but I have never been able to fugure that one out.
I have never seen one of those plastic case starter relays that I couldn't get the case off. A small screwdriver in the opening at the base and flick and off they come.

Boog,

First most valuable bit of advice that I used from our crowd was to strike the relay box on the upper right side, with the butt of a toolkit screwdriver several times after the battery was unhooked.

Result was that the relays freed up from their stuck position.

Bike had cranked and then did not want to fire after fueling 10 miles from home...and kept cranking after letting off the starter button....

I was kinda freaking out....if one considers someone jumping up and down and flapping arms going...
Oh s**t! Oh s**t!....doing that.

Jumped it with kind help of a passerby and rode it home with no lights...fearing that I had cooked something.

Read forum whilst charging battery. Went outside and thumped relay box and all was good.
Fired right up.
Chased down all the earth grounds the next day, (as per Forum advice) and was shaking head, smiling, thinking fondly of this forum/mob.

Having had many bikes in the past and having bought most of them used...have always figured on buying a new battery right off.

JimK wrote:Boog,

First most valuable bit of advice that I used from our crowd was to strike the relay box on the upper right side, with the butt of a toolkit screwdriver several times after the battery was unhooked.

Result was that the relays freed up from their stuck position.

Bike had cranked and then did not want to fire after fueling 10 miles from home...and kept cranking after letting off the starter button....

I was kinda freaking out....if one considers someone jumping up and down and flapping arms going...
Oh s**t! Oh s**t!....doing that.

Jumped it with kind help of a passerby and rode it home with no lights...fearing that I had cooked something.

Read forum whilst charging battery. Went outside and thumped relay box and all was good.
Fired right up.
Chased down all the earth grounds the next day, (as per Forum advice) and was shaking head, smiling, thinking fondly of this forum/mob.

Having had many bikes in the past and having bought most of them used...have always figured on buying a new battery right off.

Well, the Oddessey PC680 worked well. Its been sat on my R65 for a while and not run, so I charged it up, removed the old lead acid battery (which had sulphated out of the top a fair amount), and put in the Oddessey. It is about half the size of the one that came out, but fired up the K75 no prob. The new (second hand)relay joined the fun also, and it appears that that is a successful conclusion to "sticky starting"! Thanks to all for great advice!