GSA 1150 wont start

the marks on the armature dont go right round. I think they are where the armature was balanced during manufacture.
 
Yeah the scoring on the armature doesn't go all the way round.

I have just noticed that the negative terminal connector on the battery is touching against the tank........but that shouldn't make a difference to power output would it?????
 
Yeah the scoring on the armature doesn't go all the way round.

I have just noticed that the negative terminal connector on the battery is touching against the tank........but that shouldn't make a difference to power output would it?????

Not the negative one, the positive one might have interesting results though, is there a lot of bearing wear allowing the armature to contact the magnets then? or have the magnets been re-bonded at some point?
Stewart
 
I dont think the magnets have been rebonded - the bike is only 30000 miles old, I've had it since 20k and its only ever been touched by Rainbow dealers in UK, I have a full service history and there's no mention of starter. Also rivets were in tact. When I rotated the end that connects with the flywheel the armature rotated freely, there was no sticking that I could see, no grating sound either.

Could there be a problem on the gearing end of the starter after the armature?
 
I dont think the magnets have been rebonded - the bike is only 30000 miles old, I've had it since 20k and its only ever been touched by Rainbow dealers in UK, I have a full service history and there's no mention of starter. Also rivets were in tact. When I rotated the end that connects with the flywheel the armature rotated freely, there was no sticking that I could see, no grating sound either.

Could there be a problem on the gearing end of the starter after the armature?

I think the only bearing in there is right in the nose end of the starter, just a plain bush, my starter was much sweeter in operation after I cleaned the pinion end with some solvent and packed a bit of fresh grease into the reduction gears.
Stewart
 
The gears were well greased, pin end of armature was spotless as was armature, look at the photos. The can was clean - all really clean.
 
Did you have this problem before fitting the new battery ?

Your new battery is overflowing with volts, but does it have an abundance amps ?

Re-assemble the starter motor, put it on a flat surface and with jump leads from a 12volt source apply 12 volts to the pos terminal and earth the case.
Does it spin ?
 
The problem wasn't there as seriously before I changed the battery - I changed the battery because the bike was draining every few days, the volt meter said the battery was fine, yet it was draining. I also had an aftermarket alarm in, I changed battery, not much better, then I removed the alarm. It was better until a this problem. Its been building to this also - I could feel it getting slower and slower turning.

The starter motor span this morning before I disassembled it.

In fact the bike started this morning after I had charged the battery overnight. But only once, as I said above when I then switched it off and tried again immediately it wouldnt start, it turned over but wouldn't catch. When I applied choke I heard the same quick ratcheting sound.

Then I took the starter out, tried it it span around.

I will reassemble the starter and and try power to it again.
 
Sounds like your stater motor is the problem.

The erratic starting all depends on where the starter stops in the case.
 
I presumed the first start was the first surge of power from freshly charged battery, cause after that it wouldn't start at all again.

Anyway we'll find out in a few days because my starter just died on the operating table. As I reassembled it and lifted the second fork in the spring the plastic casing just snapped in half.

So I'll be getting a starter from motorworks - that'll take a few days to get to me here in west of Ireland.

When I get it I'll come back to this post and let you all know what the result is.

Thanks so far for all your help lads - this forum is invaluable for me, I'm so far from any BMW dealers that if I couldn't work on the bike myself it wouldn't really be feasible for me to have a GS at all - and its this forum helps me to work on it - Much appreciated.
 
Check your Yellow pages, any starter reconditioning place can fix your starter, most of it is the same as small French cars.
Stewart
 
Hi There Petkostas,

Sounds similar alright - once I have it started and revved the throttle until it wont die the revs sit at about 800 on mine then they come up slowly after I've ridden for a while.

Do you notice also when you start that the engine seems to have a hard time turning over, just as you hit the ignition switch - that first roll over of the engine, as if the battery were low? I have that as if the starter is trying to turn over a huge weight.

I will have more answers soon, I've taken my starter motor to a reconditioner, he'll have it back to me tomorrow, if its bad news I'll get a new starter in by tuesday (when the part comes in the post) then I will have more answers and be able to narrow down the fault.

If you discover anything new let us know.
 
Hi There Folks,

Starter motor is fine. I brought it to a starter motor guy, put a new plastic cap on, cleaned and greased gears armature - so starter is fine....but the problem persists.

Today I put back in the starter. Fired it up. The engine turned fairly sprightly, seemed to nearly catch, a few put puts. I opened the throttle and it fired up. It sounded fine. I kept the throttle open for a minute then let it idle. It was idling at 600-700.

I turned the engine off again and tried again this time it wouldnt start at all. It is turning over but it feels like the battery is draining before my eyes. I opened the throttle - no joy, then when I open the throttle past a certain point the clicks start.

It could never be that the idle speed is low that stops it starting could it, surely opening the throttle would be the same.

I have the on charge now and i bet I'll get it going in the morning - but only once.

Me wonders is it electrics - is the battery now getting recharged or is there a slightly higher resistance on the circuit lowering the current to the starter??

Or
Is there something draining the battery slowly?

What do you think folks.
 
ps I know that the idle speed should be circa 1500 and I will put it back there once I get this problem sorted or even if I get it started again in the morning I'll do that. But I cant see how this is causing my problem?
 
If I apply choke I get a fast ratcheting sound. If I open throttle the same. When I leave both alone it just turns but wont start.

unless I've misunderstand this when you use the choke the butterfly closes a bit so the fuel/air mix get richer, but it would also cause a greater strain on the enigine while trying to spin up, would it be worth taking the big brass screws out and checking the o-rings and clean out the oriffice's ?
 
The choke seems to actually help, its like the choke isnt enough. If I then leave the choke alone and use the throttle, ie give it even more fuel it starts. But there's only a certain point I can open the throttle before the clicks start, sounds as if the throttle doesn't like being opened that much on start up (which I can understand).

Could it be as simple as the engine just isn't getting enough fuel to start?

Yet having said that.......when I do start it by opening the throttle, when I stop the engine again and try again it wont start at all even with the throttle.

or is there not enough power going to the starter.
 


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