Bosch starters

[DrFarkoff]

I have 3 Bosch 9 tooth starters

1 of which looks like the armature is cooked so that's 2

one had the bush in the end gone and I got a new one for a quid or so and fitted it

They test well on the bench after stripping cleaning and lubricating

But yesterday I put one in Davy Mortons bike (which was my original first airhead about 9 years ago

and it was just as "slow" as the one I took out I then used my own Valeo with the same battery etc and it's a much better job and the bike starts easier rather than that high compression/advanced ignition timing effect that the Bosch ones are doing

The brushes all look good and every thing is lubed and cleaned Yet they are both still slow

Do you guys think that a recondition will work or are they just past their sell by date

 

[Redboots]

The Bosch turns slower than the Valeo... but does not shed magnets.

You can check/replace the main feed wires. They can build up quite a resistance over the years.
Earth strap and connections in good order?

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

I have rebuilt a couple of Valeo starters with a body from EuroMotoElectrics from Denver Colorado, these have supposedly a better glue but also spring clips between the magnets to stop them moving.

My Mono has a high compression engine which was sometimes difficult to start with the Bosch starter but starts as it should do with the modified Valeo..............time will tell on it's reliability, but so far so good!

 

[VAL. H.]

You can also use the main body from iirc Valeo starters fitted Citroen saxo and Peugeot 206 plus others no doubt.

Personally I wouldn't bother fitting the bosh starter. It's far to slow imo. Valeos are easy to get hold of for very little money and share many common parts, making a cheep easy rebuild.


Val.

 

[DrFarkoff]

I was talking to someone who said that it may be the solenoid

All the cables are good and the earth points are good but it turns over like the compression is too high or the ignition too advanced

It's just had a full service inc carb overhaul so I am sure everything is good

The fella reckoned that the contacts "may" be burned inside the solenoid and that is leading to high resistance and lower current reaching the armature and therefore the slow turning over

Thoughts on that one folks?

 

[Redboots]

The fella reckoned that the contacts "may" be burned inside the solenoid and that is leading to high resistance and lower current reaching the armature and therefore the slow turning over

Thoughts on that one folks?

Could be.
Is the battery good under load? One iffy cell will sap the others.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Yep I have a load tester and drops to 12 ish under load but recovers instantly to 13.5 ish volts after 15 seconds Hiolds voltage without dropping over a week too Basically what I interpret as within spec

Could be.
Is the battery good under load? One iffy cell will sap the others.

 

[VAL. H.]

A friend of mine has an 1100RT. He complained of the starter having a slow turnover. He swapped his bosh starter for another one with no change. He has now fitted the Valeo and is much happier with the starting.

It seems the Bosh verses Valeo is carried on to the next generation. Slow 'fingers crossed, reliable starting' Bosh for that long trip into the bundoo, or the faster 'potentially fatally flawed' Valeo for more assured starting.

There are other options though. Just had a look on eBay and there seems to be at least one make coming along. This is one There is a Japanese starter, whose name I can't remember around too. Quite expensive, though probably better all round.



Val.

 

[Voyager]

There is a Japanese starter, whose name I can't remember around too.

Nippon-Denso ??

I have one on my R1150GSA.

Bob.

 

[Beemerboff]

I have the Euromotoelectrics -EME- cheap Valeo knock off on my G/S and it has performed perfectly for almost 3 years/80,000 km.

It replaced the tired old Bosch which had probably lasted for more than 270.000 km.

I fitted a set of EME's reasonably priced upgraded battery leads at the same time, and it transformed a reluctant starter into a first time almost every time starter.

I dont think that the $130- starter will still be going in 270,000 km, but then I probably wont either------.

 

[chasbmw]

A very slow Bosch starter is often as a result of worn armature bushes, but Valeo or ND is a better option!