Battery

[Santa-2512]

Thanks Santa
I could see the removal and refit would be awkward, hopefully I can avoid that till winter when bike is off the road and then can have starter overhauled at least

First time took about an hour, second 30 mins, third 15 tops

its very easy, just looks complex , the plastic deco cover is the big faf lol

 

[littleredrooster]

Every GS I've had has sounded as if it isn't going to start when cold. Don't fret! (But have a lithium jump-pack handy for when it doesn't...)

 

[botus]

My K1300 had an additional loom they fit if you complain it won't hot start....

BWM either skimp on the quality / gauge of the wiring or just don't know what they are doing

 

[Santa-2512]

My K1300 had an additional loom they fit if you complain it won't hot start....

BWM either skimp on the quality / gauge of the wiring or just don't know what they are doing

Dont think poor starting on a 7 year old bike will elicit a wiring mod from the dealer or higher

When i did mine it's about £20 for the two cables, A Motobatt makes it easier, as it has 4 terminals to tap off from

 

[Yugsy1]

Hi
Search this item number on ebay 123679705023.
£12.49.

Item 273023782874

Item 273023782896
These two should also fit

I put it down to the brushes can some how become “burnt” even though they look fine.
I have had no issues at all hot or cold since the brush replacement.
If I remember the starter ident numbers are on the side against the engine block when fitted!
Good luck

Yesterday I made a start (on the starter....)

First hurdle is that I haven't got the right size Torx socket to remove the starter from the bike so that will have to wait for another day

Second hurdle is that I can't find any markings to indicate the manufacturer and model number of the starter. I assume it's Bosch but really need that info to be able to order replacement brushes

Third hurdle is that there don't seem to be many UK sources of what might be compatible brushes - Yugsy1 can you possibly point me to your supplier?

But - I did give the terminals and connectors a good clean up because they didn't look wonderful. It might be imagination but I felt the engine turned over more briskly afterwards, real test will be when the engine is hot.

The starter motor terminals are in quite an exposed location so must be prone to some corrosion. I wasn't too impressed that the cable is slightly exposed where it enters the cable ring connector and over the years I would expect corrosion to creep up the cable from that weak point.

 

[botus]

Dont think poor starting on a 7 year old bike will elicit a wiring mod from the dealer or higher

When i did mine it's about £20 for the two cables, A Motobatt makes it easier, as it has 4 terminals to tap off from

on the K1300 its very common, there's a kit with a few wires you can buy or they put on during warranty if you tell them too....

My Brand new GSA LC refused to start 6 times. Then even though allegedly fixed for 2014 model year, my 2018 bike had the clutch let itself out in traffic whilst the lever was against the bars on two occasions, but according to BMW technical there were no faults "just design features" ! funny that, just before court I got my money back and they had a problem to sell on to some other mug...


The HOT START harness is run in parallel to oem wires. Method according to BMW is for the dealer is to measure the drop in volts from top to bottom. As the oem wires and surround get hot the volts drop to starter mimicking a low battery which is not the case. If orig wires were of the right gauge this wouldn't have been an issue

 

[SIB8292]

Thanks for that Yugsy1.

 

[SIB8292]

Well this is a follow up to all the above - top say that having followed Yugsy1's advice the problem is fixed. To remind anyone who is bored by this thread my problem was the sluggish turnover when the engine was hot. Replaced bushes and rode the bike for half an hour - returned home, switched off and left bike for a few mins, hey presto it turns over just as it does when cold.

I found the old bushes were a bit worn but not majorly so, and there was a certain amount of carbon dust inside the starter motor casing but not excessive to my mind. But that was the problem. For the record the bike has done just under 19k miles.

It just remains to say - thanks Yugsy1 !

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I presume Bushes is a typo and you mean brushes?

I’ve had a single cam 1200, with no starting issues.

Changed to a TC 9 years ago and from day one I noticed the starter sounded lazy or under a lot of load.
The bike has always started, but always sounds bike it’s not gonna start. It has never let me down.

I changed battery for a motobat item a few years ago. Made no difference in the lazy turn over, but still...... always starts the bike.

I spoke to a local auto electricians who are known for fixing car starter motors and they agreed to give it an overhaul with new brushes.

So I spent an hour on the garage floor removing the starter this afternoon. Bloody awkward to get at the inner t45 torx bolt. But refitting should be easier now I’ve it figured out.

I will be dropping it off tomorrow for an overhaul..... I will give an update Here when it’s refitted.

 

[Yugsy1]

Well this is a follow up to all the above - top say that having followed Yugsy1's advice the problem is fixed. To remind anyone who is bored by this thread my problem was the sluggish turnover when the engine was hot. Replaced bushes and rode the bike for half an hour - returned home, switched off and left bike for a few mins, hey presto it turns over just as it does when cold.

I found the old bushes were a bit worn but not majorly so, and there was a certain amount of carbon dust inside the starter motor casing but not excessive to my mind. But that was the problem. For the record the bike has done just under 19k miles.

It just remains to say - thanks Yugsy1 !

Glad to be of service!
As you say when opened up the insides if the motor do not look bad.
It is a case of clean everything and fit replacement brush pack.
I have had 6 months without any issues since the work.
I now keep a brush set in stock just in case.

 

[Inusleroux]

Now i had the same problem on my 2011 GSA and dealer kept fobbing me off giving me new batteries.... what i did in lock down to get to the bottom of it.... put a great big tractir on in ( jumper leads) and it was still sluggish!

I removed the starter, thinking the trick cleaning and regreasing the little gears will work... maybe for you it will get some white grease clean them refit them mine was dirty.

But in mine the brushes burned dead spots on to the contact area.

After a new starter its perfect now! I made a little video, ill try to post it or i can WhatsApp it to you.

 

[SIB8292]

I presume Bushes is a typo and you mean brushes?

I’ve had a single cam 1200, with no starting issues.

Changed to a TC 9 years ago and from day one I noticed the starter sounded lazy or under a lot of load.
The bike has always started, but always sounds bike it’s not gonna start. It has never let me down.

I changed battery for a motobat item a few years ago. Made no difference in the lazy turn over, but still...... always starts the bike.

I spoke to a local auto electricians who are known for fixing car starter motors and they agreed to give it an overhaul with new brushes.

So I spent an hour on the garage floor removing the starter this afternoon. Bloody awkward to get at the inner t45 torx bolt. But refitting should be easier now I’ve it figured out.

I will be dropping it off tomorrow for an overhaul..... I will give an update Here when it’s refitted.

Yes brushes not bushes - more haste less speed!

I agree that the inner torx bolt is awkward - I ended up buying a set of 110 mm torx 3/8th drive sockets - having noted that the length from the bolt housing to the rear of the starter is 100mm. There seemed to be lots around at 100mm or 140mm. I felt 100mm would be too short to be able to engage the drive and 140mm too long as the drive would foul on the frame.

110mm was a Goldilocks size - 120mm would probably have been fine too. 3/8th drive much better than 1/2"too. It was easy with the right tools.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I’ve had a single cam 1200, with no starting issues.

Changed to a TC 9 years ago and from day one I noticed the starter sounded lazy or under a lot of load.
The bike has always started, but always sounds bike it’s not gonna start. It has never let me down.

I changed battery for a motobat item a few years ago. Made no difference in the lazy turn over, but still...... always starts the bike.

I spoke to a local auto electricians who are known for fixing car starter motors and they agreed to give it an overhaul with new brushes.

I will be dropping it off tomorrow for an overhaul..... I will give an update Here when it’s refitted.

So, I picked up my starter motor after getting it an overhaul. The guy said it didn’t look particularly worn in any way, but he changed the brushes , a bearing and greased the gears.... I think.

Too technical for me, but for £50+VAT, I was happy to leave it to an expert.

I refitted it tonight, didn’t expect it to sound any different, BUT it spins over nicely now, more like a single cam bike.

I was pleasantly surprised at the difference. Lazy starter cured.

 

[Headtester]

Excellent, sounds like a good result.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Result

 

[Yugsy1]

So, I picked up my starter motor after getting it an overhaul. The guy said it didn’t look particularly worn in any way, but he changed the brushes , a bearing and greased the gears.... I think.

Too technical for me, but for £50+VAT, I was happy to leave it to an expert.

I refitted it tonight, didn’t expect it to sound any different, BUT it spins over nicely now, more like a single cam bike.

I was pleasantly surprised at the difference. Lazy starter cured.

Glad I got to the bottom of this head scratcher and been able to help others