Starter motor problem possibly?

[gspod]

Bike wouldn't start this morning.
Ignition on and everything normal - press starter button, loud click battery light goes low - depress starter button and everything back to normal.

I'm now stuck at work with no haines - is it easy to change the starter motor - need the bike this weekend

Thanks for any replies

 

[The Grey One]

Bike wouldn't start this morning.
Ignition on and everything normal - press starter button, loud click battery light goes low - depress starter button and everything back to normal.

I'm now stuck at work with no haines - is it easy to change the starter motor - need the bike this weekend

Thanks for any replies

Replacing a starter is very easy but it might not solve the problem. Could be anything from a loose battery terminal to a seized engine. Check both terminals on the battery, then remove the plastic cover and check the starter connectors. You will then need to check the battery, is is charged,if not then it needs charging first. Then, if it was low battery causing the problem, you can check if the alternator is charging correctly, if so the fault was the battery.

Whatever you do don't just rush in and replace things without checking. That way you will eventually replace enough to solve the problem but it will have cost far more than just replacing the actual cause. Good luck

John

 

[gspod]

Hi John thanks for reply.

It is a brand new battery and terminals are fine. In hindsight the stating problem had been happening for a while but it has always started second or third go - I changed the battery cos it was old and thought that could be the problem.

I shall definitely check the starter terminals tonight though.

Cheers
D

 

[The smudger]

Check here

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343769

 

[The Grey One]

Hi John thanks for reply.

It is a brand new battery and terminals are fine. In hindsight the stating problem had been happening for a while but it has always started second or third go - I changed the battery cos it was old and thought that could be the problem.

I shall definitely check the starter terminals tonight though.

Cheers
D

OK, does sound like a starter problem This might help http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207984

John

 

[The smudger]

Great minds and all that, we must have been typing at the same time John! How are you all?

 

[The Grey One]

Great minds and all that, we must have been typing at the same time John! How are you all?

We are all fine here, a little tired-more by the persistent hot weather than anything else. It's great for those on holiday but working in it is another matter. Did have rain last night ( only the second time since early July) and it's drizzling now but is set to clear after lunch. Hope to see you out here again some time

John

PS isn't the other half of the saying about great minds that fools never differ!

 

[gspod]

Nice thread thanks chaps.

I shall check the leads tonight but, I do need the bike this weekend so will probably just order a recon from motorworks and hope for the best.

The bike is 17yrs old, 107,5xx miles with the original starter, I am doing a rolling/running revamp of the bike over the next couple of years so would do this at some stage anyway.

Thanks for all the replies I will let you know how I get on.

 

[slalom]

Hi,

You could, of course, whip the starter off and take it to an auto electrical service centre, usually tucked away a bit, where they will test the motor and re-con as necessary. One day turn round is normal.
Had mine done locally about 3 months ago - £50 inc vat.

Hope this helps

G.

 

[gspod]

Thanks Slalom and all.

Did the old tap with a hammer routine last night and it started. took it off last night and soaked the bolts in 3-1. Will take off the solenoid tonight and give it all a bit of a clean up and put it back for the weekend.

I will look into a local place to recon it - £50 quid sounds good to me. I can always use my wife's bike for work.

 

[MattW]

I've just retired my original 19 year old starter, replacing it with a German eBay one for about 35 euros. There was nothing outwardly wrong with the original - all magnets firmly stuck, grease plate ok, brushes fine etc but it was sluggish to turn over and it always took me several attempts to start without an abs initialisation fault. Very occasionally it would just not turn over at all and reset the clock.

The replacement spins over twice as fast and I never get abs faults on startup now. No other changes (same battery etc).

Perhaps the older starters just get tired and the magnets lose some power?...

 

[gspod]

I've just retired my original 19 year old starter, replacing it with a German eBay one for about 35 euros.

I think you may be right. I didn't strip it down just took the cover off and cleaned up the the solenoid arm and gave the whole thing a spray of 3in1, seems to be okay for the moment but I'm interested the German one for 35 euros - what's the SP with that?

Cheers

 

[MattW]

I think you may be right. I didn't strip it down just took the cover off and cleaned up the the solenoid arm and gave the whole thing a spray of 3in1, seems to be okay for the moment but I'm interested the German one for 35 euros - what's the SP with that?

Cheers

A couple of threads to get you going:
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327751
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332930

Prices seem to fluctuate widely - not sure what the current going rate is...

Some say they're no good, but that may be based on older models or just an unlucky experience. I, and others, have fitted them with no problems (so far )