Any ideas what this is?

[Clem]

Removed the starter today to clean the mechanism (2001 1150GS-A) due to a severe reluctance of the bike to start.

Sure enough the drive was gammed up and a good clean has resolved all of the issues.

When I removed the starter assembly, this fell out.

First thought was "Oh b*****ks, it's a magnet" but although it has the look of magentic material, it isn't magnetic.
Approx 15mm long.

Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[Black Rooster]

carbon motor brush ?

 

[Ian J Hartley]

carbon motor brush ?

The carbon brushes in the valeo starter motor have a trapizoidal cross sectional profile.

It's not clear in your post whether it came from the inside of the starter motor, or from the area around the starter motor.

It doesn't look like anything I have seen from the internals of the starter motor. I'm guessing it's a foreign object from somewhere.

Any idea if what it's made from? Looks plastic to me.

Ian

 

[Buz]

I havent got a clue but it may help others if you could give a size of it as well

 

[Ian J Hartley]

I havent got a clue but it may help others if you could give a size of it as well

Errr approx 15 mm long maybe

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

so thats where i left it...

 

[Buz]

Errr approx 15 mm long maybe

Shit........I blame the cider

 

[Matt101]

Looking at the top edge it looks like its broken away from something else!

 

[Fanum]

It's a DiLithium crystal....withoot it, she cannae go

 

[STUBBS]

its one of them thing a me bobs

 

[Clem]

Out and about today, no strange noises, everything working as it should.

So whatever it is, it can't be vital to the functioning of the bike!

 

[Steptoe]

So whatever it is, it can't be vital to the functioning of the bike!

You've never mentioned what material "whatever it is" is made from.

Hard rubber, plastic, resin, ali ????

Without knowing what it's made of i'd say it's a section of the webbing/casting from the gearbox or rear of the crankcase.

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Out and about today, no strange noises, everything working as it should.

So whatever it is, it can't be vital to the functioning of the bike!

It's Kryptonite

 

[Clem]

Feels ceramic or resin, but it's not magnetic.