Starter motor screech when bike cold

[Comfy Old Boots]

Not an issue until it goes bang but I'm curious if anyone can tell me what it is.

As the title says. It screeches when I start the bike when it's cold. It's not as cold in Ireland as the uk (thank god) but its pretty parky!

Bike starts on the button every time. Don't need the fast idle. Starts the same when its been in my heated garage and when it's been outside work after a 12 hour shift. Only difference is a screech sound when it started outside after resting for a good while. I can feel the screech through the starter motor cover.

Anyone any ideas? Does it need a squirt of oil or lube or something? It a bit weird. It screeches after the bike has started! About a 1/2 second delay between ignition and the noise.

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Not an issue until it goes bang but I'm curious if anyone can tell me what it is.

As the title says. It screeches when I start the bike when it's cold. It's not as cold in Ireland as the uk (thank god) but its pretty parky!

Bike starts on the button every time. Don't need the fast idle. Starts the same when its been in my heated garage and when it's been outside work after a 12 hour shift. Only difference is a screech sound when it started outside after resting for a good while. I can feel the screech through the starter motor cover.

Anyone any ideas? Does it need a squirt of oil or lube or something? It a bit weird. It screeches after the bike has started! About a 1/2 second delay between ignition and the noise.

Sounds to me as if the pinion gear is gummed up on the shaft of the starter. If you remove the starter and it is gummed up clean the shaft with some wd40 and slide the gear up and down the shaft as there will be some crap in the bush of the gear keep wiping the shaft until it stays clean after sliding the gear up and down. Be careful not to get the wd40 into the clutch of the starter drive.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Sounds like an easy enough, if time consuming job. Ill give that a try. I'm taking from your reply, the less ad 40 used the better.

 

[Stewart H]

I dont use WD there, its just the bare shaft on the end of the starter is sticky and has clutch dust on it, these are best left dry, I clean them using a paintbrush and paraffin/petrol/solvent and blow dry, ten minute job

 

[bobsnew]

I dont use WD there, its just the bare shaft on the end of the starter is sticky and has clutch dust on it, these are best left dry, I clean them using a paintbrush and paraffin/petrol/solvent and blow dry, ten minute job

+1 on this, same symptoms as mine, not a murmer since.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Thanks. I'll do that later this eve.

 

[DrFarkoff]

S'easy disconnect your battery negative

remove the starter cover

Take off the top starter cable Now be careful here because they can rust and you "might"*** break the bakelite on the solenoid! So clean the nut and threads and apply some lube type stuff before you go mad

***Might because it "usually" doesn;t happen but I remember your idea of a wee tighten

Once off, use some white spirit, petrol, pariffin and clean the pinion down and the end casing

You can take off the alloy nose cone without removing the rear "motor" part 3 x torx 25 and one torx 20 and the front slips off BUT watch the small stainless bar in the pivot point it can drop out!


Clean out the plain bush and while it's off clean the one way clutch thing behind the teeth and drip in some 3 in one oil and turn the teeth part, so that the oil can get in there, you will notice it gets impressively easier to turn with just a few drops of light oil!

 

[Smug]

Are you sure that it is not the alternator belt?

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Sounds like an easy enough, if time consuming job. Ill give that a try. I'm taking from your reply, the less ad 40 used the better.

Spot on less equals more or has been said paraffin will do the same.The best thing is spray on brake cleaner as it evaporates off quickly.

 

[Greg Masters]

Are you sure that it is not the alternator belt?

+1

 

[rusto]

Are you sure that it is not the alternator belt?

The noise might come as the starter is slowing down with no load on it but it's got to be worth eliminating the belt first...

 

[Delboy777]

Thats exactly what my one did, screech then seize then snap in that order

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

No I'm not sure if its the alternator belt. Must check if its due for replacement.

Is the bike being cold a bit of a curveball? Only happens when's its cold! I'll clean the starter when I get home.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Thats exactly what my one did, screech then seize then snap in that order

The alternator belt snapped?

 

[High-Tower]

Top advice, cheers

Mine started screeching a few weeks ago. Took half an hour this morning to do just what you've outlined. It's now screech free and I'm happy for once.

 

[High-Tower]

No I'm not sure if its the alternator belt. Must check if its due for replacement.

Is the bike being cold a bit of a curveball? Only happens when's its cold! I'll clean the starter when I get home.

The symptoms you described in your OP are exactly as mine, a screech, just after starting. And for some reason, didn't happen so much with a warm engine.

As I've just posted, cleaning the starter has sorted mine.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Good news. My alternator belt was changed about 7000 miles ago.

 

[Keith Chapman]

Good news. My alternator belt was changed about 7000 miles ago.

But that does not mean it is not loose, only takes 5 minutes to check.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I was just out looking at it actually. It feels tight. How do I know if its loose or should it be obviously loose?

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I've got the newer type (c12.31.341.779) belt. That's the maintanence free one isn't it? That's according Haynes ... But I also read that it's not just the belt that needs to be replaced for it to be maintanence free. So ignore that question, I didn't get the pulleys etc changed.