Battery or starter?

[AustinW]

It's a Bosch starter.

I took the solenoid off just now. The bendix was very stiff on the shaft needing screwdrivers to move it and was stuck in the engaged position. But with some moly grease on the bendix gear it released and it appears to move ok.

On the bench Current though the solenoid (via the spade connector) has the bendix throwing to engaged and the motor spins at lowish speed. Current direct to the motor and it spins faster. Is the solenoid / it's connections absorbing some current or is this normal?

But when I put it all back together it made no difference.

As the bendix was apparently stuck in engaged it seems likely the motor is damaged as it will have been spinning at engine speed.

Arrowhead starter anyone.

 

[AustinW]

Some photos for interest...

 

[Santa-2512]

Have you run a resistance check through the coils of the commutator & field coils of the casing?

Sounds like one of the coils has died...

What is your commutator like --- pics please & brushes

mart

 

[AustinW]

Have you run a resistance check through the coils of the commutator & field coils of the casing?

Sounds like one of the coils has died...

What is your commutator like --- pics please & brushes

mart

Thanks Mart,

Its all back together and I have come inside for lunch and rugby now. Maybe later as son #1 has just turned up (electronics engineer) and will want to dive in.

But, commutator appears fine - a touch of carbon dust but not bad at all, and plenty of undercut. brushes were new about 5 weeks ago.

Do you have any figures for the resistance check and where am I checking from to?

 

[andyu]

It's a Bosch starter.

I took the solenoid off just now. The bendix was very stiff on the shaft needing screwdrivers to move it and was stuck in the engaged position. But with some moly grease on the bendix gear it released and it appears to move ok.

On the bench Current though the solenoid (via the spade connector) has the bendix throwing to engaged and the motor spins at lowish speed. Current direct to the motor and it spins faster. Is the solenoid / it's connections absorbing some current or is this normal?

But when I put it all back together it made no difference.

As the bendix was apparently stuck in engaged it seems likely the motor is damaged as it will have been spinning at engine speed.

Arrowhead starter anyone.

I bought an Arrowhead starter off an Ebay seller a week or so ago, much cheaper than Motorworks, and spins like a good 'un

 

[andyu]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361918931998?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[AustinW]

Thanks Andy. Not too far from me either. I could pick up and hopefully be all sorted on Monday.

 

[AustinW]

Minor success . I took the battery to the local Car Care (thats Car Care, High St Garstang http://www.roofboxcentre.com - great guys) who had a tester and confirmed it is OK at 200 amps (Its is rated for 200CCA). So its starter or cables thats the problem. The Car Care chaps then made me two 30" battery cables so after a final strip and clean of the starter for photos (its a 10minute job now) I tried without the extra cables - no use; and then with them and bingo the bike started.

I say Minor success because although the starter turned fast enough to start the engine I would hardly call it turning over at a confidence inspiring speed and I would expect on a hot restart it would struggle.

So its a new starter for me as I reckon all the extra cables have done is make an iffy starter tenable and don't explain why it should suddenly have fialed. Bykebitz in Heywood Lancs (thanks again Andy) do the Arrowhead pattern part new for £162 so that's what i am going for. Hopefully in stock and I can pick up Monday morning so should be sorted by early afternoon in time to visit my Mum in hospital later on. I am going to retain the extra earth and +ve cables and I reckon I will then have the fastest GS starter in the UK.

The Motobatt I have ordered, although arguably not needed, does mean it will be a whole lot easier to hook up all the accessory cables i have got on the bike as it has two pairs of poles - one pair for the main supply & starter, and one for the accessories. I will also have a spare battery for testing stuff - always good.

 

[Santa-2512]

Did you try a hot start?

If the cables save you £160 then its got to be the cheaper option

Mart

 

[AustinW]

Did you try a hot start?

If the cables save you £160 then its got to be the cheaper option

Mart

Hot start will wait until Tomorrow. The England / Ireland rugby started at about the same time as my bike started so I chucked my tools in a drawer shut the garage door and opened the beer.