GN250 won't start

[novanlor]

hello, i was thinking of picking this 1982 GN250 up for $500 but it currently doesn't start. the seller says he drove it to the store and it wouldn't start back up when he came back out, it turns over but makes a bit of a clunk.

https://imgur.com/a/sJt33LL (turn sound on)

3700 miles, new oil, new oil filter, new alternator, new battery, new spark plug, compression tested at around 110 (called Suzuki they said around 140 is good)

any ideas? is that the starter clutch I'm hearing? thank you very much for any insight.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Have you rolled it down a hill and dumped it in second?
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[novanlor]

i asked the seller and he has not, i can't do much hands on troubleshooting myself as i haven't purchased the bike yet.

i know that this does not do much to help you help me, but im curious if any of you can identify a likely cause of the clunking noise. if I were to go forward with the sale, i have no issues taking apart the clutch, starter and having a look at the magneto/regulator/wiring.

i believe the seller when he says that the bike is in overall good condition, i don't think it needs too much to get moving, but I'm curious if there's anything glaringly obvious that im missing here.

[Nobby the Bastard]

The clunk could either be the starter relay or it could be the engine seized.

How do you know what the compression is if it just clunks?

In order to check the compression the engine has to turn over but fron what you say it doesn't.

If you roll it down hill and put it in second it should at least turn over a bit before it stops. If the starter is knackered it will probably bump start. You have to be on the bike bacuase itll just lock the back wheel otherwise.

I'm assuming it doesnt have a kickstarter.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[stinkwheel]

I've been spun some lines of utter bullshit by sellers before slo take anything they say as being lies unless you actually know them.

I've bought two bikes on totally seperate occasions that were "running when put into storage" that had shiny brand new pistons in them. One just needed the carb cleaned. The other had been assembled by a performing monkey who'd broken the first set of piston rings fitting themand left bits in the bottom of the engine.

So if it's a non runner, regardless of what the seller says, it's somewhere on the line between "needs a new sparkplug" and "built from the knackered parts I had lying about and passed off as a complete bike.".
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Riejufixing]

[Nobby the Bastard]

When a sprag clutch is knackered, it doesnt go clunk.

You hear the starter spinning and a clicking noise where the clutch tries to engage but doesnt.

A clunk would be the clutch engaging but not spinning the engine, either due to a seized engine or a flat battery.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Riejufixing]