So this is a bit of a long winded story but…
It all started with my ABS lights not going out upon moving a few meters down the road and then flashing alternatively for my entire journey. After a bit of reading on here I decided it must be the battery voltage dropping below the threshold value for the ABS system during cranking.
I thought this was odd since I’d not long fitted a new battery so I checked my theory using a battery booster pack and that did seem to do the trick. In addition, after two or three cranks in short succession it was really struggling to start. Tough luck I thought, must just be a dud battery…if only I’d kept the receipt I thought…
Odyssey seemed to come best recommended so after the best part of 150 quid to motor works my shiny new odyssey arrived. I gave it a top up charge and fitted it to the bike, expecting my problems would be resolved and I’d hear that satisfying clink noise as I rode off for a test drive. Yeah…no. The lights continued to flash - irritated would be an understatement.
Back to the forum and the starter motor was next up for investigation so out it came. Rather than shelling out for a new one and finding myself another few hundred quid lighter for no reason I thought I’d take it apart and have a look, so here we are…
First off you need to removed the 3x T25 bolts and 1x T20 bolt circled in the first picture.
Then the alloy nose should come off with a bit of encouragement from a plastic pry tool. Be careful of the pivot pin for pinion as its likely to fall out and will easily be lost. It’s held in by the pressure of the solenoid spring.
Remove the 13mm nut on the lower solenoid cable to the motor
The two rivet heads need to be ground off, I’d recommend being very careful with a dremel, you’ll see the areas circled in yellow.
You should then be able to pry the motor body housing. Mine was clearly the cause of my problems as you’ll see all the magnets for the stator are bunched up together as the glue has failed. They are meant to be equally spaced out to ensure the correct magnetic field.
Ultimately I have ordered a replacement starter motor but may refurbish this one if I can find the time.
Hope it’s useful to someone else.
Cheers, Cammy
It all started with my ABS lights not going out upon moving a few meters down the road and then flashing alternatively for my entire journey. After a bit of reading on here I decided it must be the battery voltage dropping below the threshold value for the ABS system during cranking.
I thought this was odd since I’d not long fitted a new battery so I checked my theory using a battery booster pack and that did seem to do the trick. In addition, after two or three cranks in short succession it was really struggling to start. Tough luck I thought, must just be a dud battery…if only I’d kept the receipt I thought…
Odyssey seemed to come best recommended so after the best part of 150 quid to motor works my shiny new odyssey arrived. I gave it a top up charge and fitted it to the bike, expecting my problems would be resolved and I’d hear that satisfying clink noise as I rode off for a test drive. Yeah…no. The lights continued to flash - irritated would be an understatement.
Back to the forum and the starter motor was next up for investigation so out it came. Rather than shelling out for a new one and finding myself another few hundred quid lighter for no reason I thought I’d take it apart and have a look, so here we are…
First off you need to removed the 3x T25 bolts and 1x T20 bolt circled in the first picture.
Then the alloy nose should come off with a bit of encouragement from a plastic pry tool. Be careful of the pivot pin for pinion as its likely to fall out and will easily be lost. It’s held in by the pressure of the solenoid spring.
Remove the 13mm nut on the lower solenoid cable to the motor
The two rivet heads need to be ground off, I’d recommend being very careful with a dremel, you’ll see the areas circled in yellow.
You should then be able to pry the motor body housing. Mine was clearly the cause of my problems as you’ll see all the magnets for the stator are bunched up together as the glue has failed. They are meant to be equally spaced out to ensure the correct magnetic field.
Ultimately I have ordered a replacement starter motor but may refurbish this one if I can find the time.
Hope it’s useful to someone else.
Cheers, Cammy
