I apologize for starting another thread on the low battery/starter relay issue, but I haven't found my specific problem in all my searching.
I damaged my 1987 K75's starter relay by starting the bike with a low battery. I push-started the bike and rode it home (~10 miles) where the starter continued to spin until I disconnected the battery. After installing a new battery and starter relay, the bike fired right up, all lights worked, etc. However, when I stopped the engine, the starter continued to spin until I disconnected the battery. Well, this is frustrating.
When I reconnect the new battery and turn the key to the 'on' position, I get no headlight or tail light, but I do get dash lights, and the starter does not automatically engage. The starter won't engage when I push the start button, but I can hear the fuel pump whirring and the new starter relay clicking (I beat on it a bit to unstick the contacts). Rolling the bike back and forth in gear offers no help, but I notice that the headlight will flicker on for a second when rolling it backwards.
I pulled the starter, which was cleaned and had new brushes installed within the last few thousand miles, and found that one of the brushes is worn to the point where it is not making good contact with the commutator. The starter appears to otherwise be in good condition. Is it possible that my current 'no start' problem is caused by the severely worn brushes (presumably caused by riding the bike after push-starting with the starter continually spinning)?
