[bmwcycleman]

My 98 K1200RS starter button works intermittently (sometimes it works and sometimes I have to repeatedly fool with it to get it to work), Has anyone else had this problem and if so, can you provide a solution? Thanks.

 

[Spinner]

Describe what you do when you have to fool with it. Be sure to check and clean the side stand switch - that's more likely to cause the problem than a start swtich failing.

 

[K_Biker_Bill]

Starter Switch

Spinner is right, the side stand switch is often at fault, but you need to furnish more information about the actual symptoms. Is the starter motor running with each press and the ignition system not firing the engine up?... Or is the starter motor simply not running on some presses of the starter button?

I had a similar problem early on and found it was the Kill switch that was the culprit. The starter motor would run reliably, but the ignition circuit was dead and so the engine would not fire. Eventually I discovered that gently manipulating the Kill switch lever while cranking would (sometimes anyway), fix things.

A careful disassembly of the button assembly showed the whole arrangement to be true German engineering... i.e. 500 parts were used to perform one simple task. It is filled with very delicate copper leaves and in my case, the Kill switch contacts were still closed most of the time even with the switch lever in the center "run" position. Once adjusted slightly, the system resumed normal operation.

 

[bmwcycleman]

Starter Button/Switch

Thanks guys. What happens is this - I push the starter button and sometimes the starter motor will crank the motor sometimes nothing happens.
We have had much rain this past week and I haven't ridden much, but the few times I have, the starter button has worked each time.
It is now my belief that Spinner is correct, - that it has something to do with my kickstand switch. Does anyone know how difficult it is to fix or replace the switch? Thanks in advance for your help.