Starter problems

Problem with the starter on my sons CB500.............turns out it has happened a few times recently.   When you press the starter button, the solenoid clicks but nothing happens. When the headlight is on, it doesn't dim at all when the starter button is pressed. Happened yesterday when I used the bike....... put the bike in gear and rocked it back and forwards.......... then it was perfectly ok....... might have been a coincidence. Bikes normally completely ok..... the battery spins the engine over fast and with no problems.   Anyone any inspirations?!!

Caused by corrosion etc. inside the starter motor. You need to disassemble the motor and clean it up and it should solve the problem.

Exactly this issue cropped up for me a few weeks ago. I did the above and it's now working perfectly.

There's a thread about this somewhere...I'll look it up and add it to this post. 

http://www.cb500club.net/t390-solvedcleaning-up-the-starter-motor?highlight=starter+motor

It happens when grot gets between the brushes and the commutator on the starter motor - rocking the bike/engine forwards or backwards a bit moves the starter motor to a different position and hopefully dislodges the grot.

As mentioned it can be cleaned...