R1150GS Starter Motor

[Neil W]

Bike would not start the other day and a drop test showed the battery dropping to under 6v when trying to crank over ....basically making the old dagga dagga dagga thunk noise., it did start on a jumper battery . Came today and put on a fully charged Odyssey battery (13.4 v) and again no joy , not even turning over even with a second battery connected with jump leads .

The bike is a very early 1999 model (24 ,000 miles ) , so pulled off the starter motor cover to find this starter , it is obviously not the original Valeo and has been replaced in 2007 , has anybody experience of one of these starters and what is their quality. I have a spare Valeo one of unknown condition and was wondering if
it is worth getting reconditioned as I am starting to suspect that the battery may not be the problem.

There is power going to the solenoid

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Bike would not start the other day and a drop test showed the battery dropping to under 6v when trying to crank over ....basically making the old dagga dagga dagga thunk noise., it did start on a jumper battery . Came today and put on a fully charged Odyssey battery (13.4 v) and again no joy , not even turning over even with a second battery connected with jump leads .

The bike is a very early 1999 model (24 ,000 miles ) , so pulled off the starter motor cover to find this starter , it is obviously not the original Valeo and has been replaced in 2007 , has anybody experience of one of these starters and what is their quality. I have a spare Valeo one of unknown condition and was wondering if
it is worth getting reconditioned as I am starting to suspect that the battery may not be the problem.

There is power going to the solenoid


View attachment 381563

That is a Valeo
Now made in Poland (not France)
Black body Valeo are best (silver body ones don’t seem to last very long, for some reason)
Black body ones are still available from certain uk suppliers (not BMW dealers or the other one in Yorkshire )
I fitted a black body one in my 1150 GSA last year
It was still on the original starter from the factory build - but was doing the same as yours and pulling the battery down to 7v on cranking
New Exide 19aH battery and new black body Valeo starter and it’s a mint starter now

I also bought a spare new Valeo black body starter before the supplies dry up, before Christmas

I would be tempted to strip yours down and clean it up and check the magnets and maybe repair with a rebuild kit (that’s what I intend to do)

 

[Neil W]

If I get time tomorrow I will stick the spare one on the bike to confirm (it is off an old r1150rt twin spark motor I bought ) , I think hen it caught and started yesterday it may have been the final hurrah for the starter, where did you get your starter from ?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

If I get time tomorrow I will stick the spare one on the bike to confirm (it is off an old r1150rt twin spark motor I bought ) , I think hen it caught and started yesterday it may have been the final hurrah for the starter, where did you get your starter from ?

Motobins
About £215

 

[Neil W]

Excellent thanks

 

[DrFarkoff]

If I get time tomorrow I will stick the spare one on the bike to confirm (it is off an old r1150rt twin spark motor I bought ) , I think hen it caught and started yesterday it may have been the final hurrah for the starter, where did you get your starter from ?

look for HC Cargo on E bay

Or a local motor factor Linky they are really well made no need for OE They even have clips on teh magnets I have fitted quite a few over teh years and MUCH cheaper than motobins!!!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

look for HC Cargo on E bay

Or a local motor factor Linky they are really well made no need for OE They even have clips on teh magnets I have fitted quite a few over teh years and MUCH cheaper than motobins!!!

Happy enough my oem Valeo lasted 20 years, since build in 2004
So replaced with another the same & £215 replacement works out at £11/year

 

[albatross]

Either as mentioned a above JB et al

Starter motor and solenoid

Valeo Starter motor and solenoid available from Motorworks, the UKs number 1 for BMW motorcycle parts

www.motorworks.co.uk

Or

Motorworks…12 months warranty

Starter motor complete

Starter motor complete available from Motorworks, the UKs number 1 for BMW motorcycle parts

www.motorworks.co.uk

Or

Starter motor brush repair kit

For Valeo D6RA7 starter motor

www.motorworks.co.uk

Done that on a starter rather successfully and very satisfying.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Either as mentioned a above JB et al

Starter motor and solenoid

Valeo Starter motor and solenoid available from Motorworks, the UKs number 1 for BMW motorcycle parts

www.motorworks.co.uk

Or

Motorworks…12 months warranty

Starter motor complete

Starter motor complete available from Motorworks, the UKs number 1 for BMW motorcycle parts

www.motorworks.co.uk

Or

Starter motor brush repair kit

For Valeo D6RA7 starter motor

www.motorworks.co.uk

Done that on a starter rather successfully and very satisfying.

You don’t want the Valeo with the shiny silver body (first example above from Motorworks)

You want the Valeo from Motobins with the black body (they haven’t many left)

It’s still manufactured in Europe

 

[Neil W]

Well the plot thickens , put the second used spare starter on the bike and again with charged Exide battery and the Odyssey jumper battery absolutely nothing , so pulled the original (2007) starter to bits on the bench , everything checked out fine (solenoid , brushes looked like new and the sliding pinion gear was like new) and looking at the MOT history it has done very few miles .
Removed the Exide AGM battery and it took full charge on my BMW charger but I still think it must be suspect so I will take it to a mates garage and put it on a proper drop tester .
Put the fully charged old Odyssey battery (which I can now confirm was new in the winter of 2004/2005 ) back on the 1150 along with the 2007 Valeo starter motor and it went first press of the button .
TBH a new battery and starter will still be on the cards

 

[DrFarkoff]

Happy enough my oem Valeo lasted 20 years, since build in 2004
So replaced with another the same & £215 replacement works out at £11/year

Having kept these things going for people for over 20 years and surprise, surprise, not everyone has the available wonga to splash out £ 200 to 250 on a starter (inc carriage) so I did some research and I found the HC cargo variant its better made than the far eastern crap and may even just be a better version of far eastern crap "but" it works and it works well

I also found components from them and rebuilt a few for people over the years

The usual culprit is the Case magnets in the "yoke" as it is called

In the HC Cargo one, the magnets are spring clipped apart so cannot reduce their diameter

I have never seen one fail so far and that is 10 years plus now

 

[Udders]

look for HC Cargo on E bay

Or a local motor factor Linky they are really well made no need for OE They even have clips on teh magnets I have fitted quite a few over teh years and MUCH cheaper than motobins!!!

Can’t see the price without creating an account.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Can’t see the price without creating an account.

Use the part Number on E bay OR with your local motor factor about £75 plus or minus a bit

 

[Udders]

HC Cargo was bought by Bosch in 2008 apparently so should be good. Cheapest I can find over here is just over £90. + post.

 

[DrFarkoff]

HC Cargo was bought by Bosch in 2008 apparently so should be good. Cheapest I can find over here is just over £90. + post.

Try your local Auto electrical repair shop They usually have access to discounts !

 

[Neil W]

Got hold of a proper battery drop tester and gave it a go on the suspect Exide battery. It had been on an Optimate and was sitting at 13.4V according to my multi meter.
Put it on the drop tester and within 5 seconds it dropped to below 7V , reset it back to volts only and it was below 12V so battery is completely b#ggered after less than 20 months on a bike that spends most of it's life on an Optimate and has a charging system that works perfectly