'88 R100GS starter

[Jon T]

My 1988 R100GS has been getting intermittently hard to start of late. This has been getting worse for the last few months, at first very infrequently, but much more often of late. When I push the starter button, the solenoid sometimes does that buzzy thing familiar to folks who used to run old cars with crappy batteries. I've checked voltage on the (fairly new) battery, which is good, and will spin the engine over like a good 'un when the intermittent problem doesn't present itself. 've had a look at the relay, which has clean contacts & seems to click over ok when fed with volts. The starter was new less than 20k ago. I'm starting to think maybe the solenoid is the issue, failing to pull in reliably. Does that make sense? Is this a common problem? Is there a test for a dodgy solenoid?

All suggestions welcome!

Cheers, Jon

 

[Beemerboff]

The starter relay can also be a problem - the Valeo solenoid draws more current than a Bosch and should have a heavier duty relay, but it doesnt always seem to have one.
Last 3 digits on the relay should be 397 .
That does relay shouild but does not work with a Valeo on my G/S - Motorworks has the one which does.

 

[solidstate100]

Im no auto electrician (used to be a mechanic tho). This could be any number of things, individually or in combination, especially on a bike of this age.

Start with the fundamentals. Given that here are "flat battery" symptoms I would make sure the charging system works, and battery is healthy first, (good volts is one thing, but capacity is another, suggest a discharge test and or specific gravity reading - I have known batteries give this symptom even tho a healthy voltage is shown). Try this - swith on main beam, heated grips and any other electrical load you have, then try and start it. What happens? Lights dim, doesnt start? Probably battery. Starts fine? probably not battery (but still could be!)

It could be a wiring/earth fault. Check all wiring (especially around the headstock, no end of demons there) and from the battery to the handlebar/starter switchgear, from the battery to the relay, from the relay to the starter and the battery to the starter and the battery earth. Use a continuity tester/multimeter, dont guess!

As Beemerboff says, check the relay rating (good tip) - they are cheap enough, probably worth replacing reagrdless.

If the starter is a valeo they have a bit of a reputation for being suspect quality- magnets detaching from casings etc. Personally I might whip it off and get it to an auto elec shop and get them to check/recondition it.

Good luck

 

[Jon T]

Thanks for the help chaps. I probably need to delve into the starter to see what I'm dealing with. I d lost track of time - I've had the bike for 11 yrs now & the previous owner (Thornley of this parish) was the last to get in there. Time flys...