i recently bought a 1989 cbr 600 to put in my sand rail that was missing quite a few things, the previous owner sold many parts on the right side to someone who crashed, such as the clutch cover, right handle, muffler, right foot peg, etc. at this point i am making a list of things i need to buy to get the engine to run. i plugged in a new battery and i tried to get the lights and gauges to turn on even though the ignition switch is also missing (so i just stuck a screwdriver in it and turned it). nothing would turn on, so i pulled my voltmeter out and started to test some of the outgoing wires, but got nothing. so then i looked at the wiring diagram, and found out what two wires to connect on the starting solenoid, and i touched the two together with some scrap wire hoping the the stater motor would turn, but it didn't. what could be the problem? is there a safety switch somewhere that i am forgetting about? (will be posting many other questions)

 

Have you checked the kick stand switch???

 

yup, the kickstand is up

 

what does the silicon rectifier do?

 

last night i got the bike to turn on, everything but the fuel pump and the turn signals worked. and i also found a hose fitting at the top of the cylinder head cover. what is this for?

 

Its so crankcase fumes can ventilate back into the intake system and burn off. Same as a PVC system on your car.

 

does anything connect to it?

 

The tube runs into the airbox where the air filter goes.