Starter problem?

[the_Journeyman]

I've had slow starting issues with my '00 900SS for a few weeks.  Now, it's changed it's behavior for the worse.  Often when I hit the starter button it attemps, the acts like I let off the button.  It never actually spins the motor over, just starts to.  Its like the effort to start overwhelms something. 

Important to know:

1)  Charger gives green (fully charged) light in 5-10 minutes from putting batter on it

2)  Age of battery unknown

3)  I don't get the solenoid click normally associated with a weak battery, the started just disengages and cuts off

4)  It will usually do a normal start after several attempts if I rock the bike back and forth in gear

Is my starter dying?

Thanks

JM

[Ddan]

Check the connections, but I'd say it's your battery.  Have it load tested.

[Howie]

When you say "the started just disengages and cuts off" do you mean the starter turns freely without cranking the engine or the starter turns slowly then stops turning? 

Definitely have the battery load tested.  The green light indicates a fully charged battery, not a good battery.

[DarkStaR]

I feel like a broken record sometimes, but have you checked the ground(s)?

[the_Journeyman]

When you say "the started just disengages and cuts off" do you mean the starter turns freely without cranking the engine or the starter turns slowly then stops turning? 

Definitely have the battery load tested.  The green light indicates a fully charged battery, not a good battery.

Turns, close to normal speed, you can hear it start to move the motor, then cuts off. 

JM

I'll have the battery load tested today and check the grounds.

My high beam indicator also has a very faint glow (only visible when riding in the dark) when the low beam is on.  That may indicate a ground problem with the headlight circuit.

JM

[the_Journeyman]

Update:

Battery checked out good, but needing a charge.  I put it on my charger and it was showing charged in 7 minutes. 

Refit & connected the batter.  Switch on, all lights up normal.  I hit the starter and zap.  All goes dead. 

Turns out, when the bolt stopped, it wasn't because the positive terminal was tight, but I had run out of travel for the bolt.  Remedied that and it's starting fine so far. 

I still wonder about the headlight, which brings a new thread. 

Thanks for the help folks!

JM