Hot engine weak stater motor

[Bendy toy]

08 GS adventure showing 65,000 miles. Odyssey battery.

At 65,000 miles, my starter has begun to struggle when the engine is hot, though it seems fine with the engine is cold. Battery voltage stays above 11.5 volts while its cranking. I cleaned the brushes a few thousand miles ago which were in fine condition so they are probably still ok.

I suspect the motor is failing.

Did anyone resolve the hot start issues or do need to get on eBay?

 

[AberdeenAngus]

09 GSA. Mine has always done - sound weak when its hot, but has always started.

 

[Santa-2512]

Halfords

They do short battery leads about £5 odd,

wire the -Ve one direct to the starter motor casing,

And the other to the original +Ve connector on the starter

This will give you a direct battery to starter connection & a normal body loop connection.


Run the bike till hot and try and restart. if it works OK, then its potentially earths and connections around the bike

No change could point toward battery or starter motor


Do a search, there are post in this forum relating to the same

Mart

 

[Bendy toy]

It sounds really sick when hot struggling to engage the starter.

Additional direct earth to a starter mounting bolt can do no harm.

Battery is fine with engine stone cold.
I've done the test with jump leads so I'm suspecting the starter motor.

It might be brushes but can't see them working fine when cold but not when hot especially as a hot engine turns more easily.

 

[AustinW]

Exactly what I had a few weeks back Bendy. Tried the leads, then a battery, but a new starter sorted it and it now spins faster than a fast thing. I got an Arrowhead starter from a local factors. £190 posted iirc which I thought was better than Motorworks who do an exchange/refurb at about the same price or a secondhand one at around £100.

I ordered an Arrowhead for a 2011 GSA which has a Bosch starter motor. The Arrowhead item supplied is physically a bit longer and I initially thought it wouldn't fit but with a slightly different approach to wiggling back into the frame it goes in just great. I understand the Valeo starter is also a bit longer than the Bosch one, and on a perusal of the Arrowhead website they only list one part number for all GS1200's. The other difference is that the main casing on the Arrowhead is unpainted bright alloy, rather than the black finish on the Bosch. Once on the bike it doesn't look wrong though.

Oh, the motor factors did say they could refurb the Bosch motor but until they looked at it couldnt say how much as they weren't sure which parts it used or how much of it would need replacing. Maybe a thought for the future.

 

[Bendy toy]

Thanks @ Austin.

Booger I thought as much.
Just when I really do not need the expense.
I wonder which car starters will fit. I strongly suspect the OEM is nothing special. Though it would need to spin the right way around.

 

[AustinW]

Thanks @ Austin.

Booger I thought as much.
Just when I really do not need the expense.
I wonder which car starters will fit. I strongly suspect the OEM is nothing special. Though it would need to spin the right way around.

The motor factors I used was actually West Lancs Auto Electrics, http://www.westlancsautoelectrics.co.uk specialists in staters and alternators. They were keen to help and did try to find an equivalent part but didn't turn anything up. I also found a big list of applications on the Bosch Website but it seems this was a special for BMW. I cant find the list now, but you could start your search here....https://www.bosch-automotive-catalo..._p_col_id=column-2&p_p_col_count=1&autoLoad=1

 

[Bendy toy]

Just out of interest I looked up Fiat 1200 starter motor. They look very similar but are mounted on the engine side so spin the opposite way. It's likely that most cars are the same.
It's unlikely that any part number searches will help but a really good parts factor might know which cars have opposite rotating starters.
This is yet another complication caused by BMW's back to front clutch that could easily have been the same as a small car clutch for very little cost. But that would be too easy.

 

[Santa-2512]

Just out of interest I looked up Fiat 1200 starter motor. They look very similar but are mounted on the engine side so spin the opposite way. It's likely that most cars are the same.
It's unlikely that any part number searches will help but a really good parts factor might know which cars have opposite rotating starters.
This is yet another complication caused by BMW's back to front clutch that could easily have been the same as a small car clutch for very little cost. But that would be too easy.

Which way do you need it to spin? (the starter that is )

Mart

 

[Santa-2512]

Do you have a bosch or valeo starter ??