Just installed a fresh battery in my old Yamaha but it still won't turn over. The starter motor just clicks once or twice and nothing happens. Could this be a bad starter, or is there something else I'm missing?
When you turn the key, does the headlight dim at all, or stay bright while you hear those clicks?
That clicking pattern is pretty telling - it usually means the solenoid's firing but the starter itself isn't engaging. Before you tear into the starter motor though, double-check your battery terminals. Even with a fresh battery, corrosion or a loose connection can cause exactly this. Make sure both cables are clean and cranked down tight. Also verify the ground cable running from the battery to the frame is solid - a bad ground will kill your cranking power even with volts showing up fine.
If the connections are spotless and tight, then yeah, you're probably looking at a starter issue. But one more thing worth trying: tap the starter gently with a wrench while someone tries to crank it. Sometimes an old starter gets stuck and a light tap can free it up temporarily. If that gets it going, at least you know for sure it's the starter and not something wiring-related. That'll save you from replacing parts you don't actually need 🛠️
I've dealt with this exact situation on older bikes before - that single click or two is usually the starter solenoid, not the battery itself. Before you assume it's the starter motor, check your battery terminals are clean and tight (corrosion kills connections even with a fresh battery), verify the ground cable from the negative terminal to the frame isn't loose or corroded, and make sure the kill switch and clutch lever safety switch are both engaged properly. If those all check out and you still get just a click, then yeah, the solenoid or starter itself is likely the culprit, but those other things catch most people first.
The solenoid angle makes sense, but before you go down that road, test whether the battery's actually holding a charge when the bike's sitting - sometimes they'll read fine on a multimeter but tank under load. I had an old bike do exactly this where the battery would show 12.5 volts but couldn't deliver enough amps to engage the starter, even though it was supposedly new. Check your battery terminals too, especially if the bike's been sitting around; corrosion can kill your cranking power even with a fresh battery installed. If the headlight stays bright when you hear those clicks, it's definitely pointing at the solenoid or starter motor itself rather than a power issue.
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