Starter Motor Test.

[steadysteve]

Recently bought a starter motor for my RT off ebay to keep as a spare. Motor was described as perfect from a seller with 100% positive feedback fwiw.
I decide to try and test it before putting it away. Connected to a battery (fully charged!) but there is no sign of life from the starter/solenoid etc. The starter gear turns by hand so not seized.
Just trying to establish if simply connecting power accross the terminals is a suitable test or does it , for example, need the extra earthing provided by being fixed in place on the bike.
Any info appreciated. Thanks.

 

[DrFarkoff]

There is a spade terminal as well

You need to carefully connect positive to the upper stud on the solenoid and the negative to a clean bit of the casing

Then if you get a small length of wire and a female spade you slide that on the spade connector and push it quite firmly to the top stud, the starter will jump and spin if its okay and keep pushing it to the stud until you want to stop it turning, if you don't it will make and break contact quickly and the starter will stop and start like a thing possessed jumping around each time it does

A Good tip if you are doing this off the bike do it on the garage floor and have your foot firmly on top of the starter there is quite a bit of inertia and it will "jump" for want of a better word

Again Just pull the wire back to stop the starter spinning

2 things If you fanny about trying to put the wire on and aren't firm like I said the starter will jump about like a thing possessed and the cables may drop off

If you do it like I do by just spreading the jump lead clamp to touch the spade if you don;t maintain firm contact on the upper stud you can get a lot of sparks flying (Arcing) and can damage the threads with this!

 

[steadysteve]

There is a spade terminal as well

You need to carefully connect positive to the upper stud on the solenoid and the negative to a clean bit of the casing

Then if you get a small length of wire and a female spade you slide that on the spade connector and push it quite firmly to the top stud, the starter will jump and spin if its okay and keep pushing it to the stud until you want to stop it turning, if you don't it will make and break contact quickly and the starter will stop and start like a thing possessed jumping around each time it does

A Good tip if you are doing this off the bike do it on the garage floor and have your foot firmly on top of the starter there is quite a bit of inertia and it will "jump" for want of a better word

Again Just pull the wire back to stop the starter spinning

2 things If you fanny about trying to put the wire on and aren't firm like I said the starter will jump about like a thing possessed and the cables may drop off

If you do it like I do by just spreading the jump lead clamp to touch the spade if you don;t maintain firm contact on the upper stud you can get a lot of sparks flying (Arcing) and can damage the threads with this!

Thanks DrF , Sounds like that extra piece of wire is the key, rather than simply +ive to +ive and -ive to -ive, will try that tomorrow. I had it clamped in the vice by one of the mounting lugs with rag to protect the surface, didn't want to damage it in case it has to go back. Cheers.

 

[Keith Chapman]

I have just replaced a startermotor, on the bike it would turn the engine over slowly, bench testing, the motor spins like a dervish. So I would also try your replacement on your bike as well, only takes a few minutes to swap them over.

 

[steadysteve]

There is a spade terminal as well

You need to carefully connect positive to the upper stud on the solenoid and the negative to a clean bit of the casing

Then if you get a small length of wire and a female spade you slide that on the spade connector and push it quite firmly to the top stud, the starter will jump and spin if its okay and keep pushing it to the stud until you want to stop it turning, if you don't it will make and break contact quickly and the starter will stop and start like a thing possessed jumping around each time it does

A Good tip if you are doing this off the bike do it on the garage floor and have your foot firmly on top of the starter there is quite a bit of inertia and it will "jump" for want of a better word

Again Just pull the wire back to stop the starter spinning

2 things If you fanny about trying to put the wire on and aren't firm like I said the starter will jump about like a thing possessed and the cables may drop off

If you do it like I do by just spreading the jump lead clamp to touch the spade if you don;t maintain firm contact on the upper stud you can get a lot of sparks flying (Arcing) and can damage the threads with this!

Tried it like this and all is well. Cheers Doc

 

[steadysteve]

I have just replaced a startermotor, on the bike it would turn the engine over slowly, bench testing, the motor spins like a dervish. So I would also try your replacement on your bike as well, only takes a few minutes to swap them over.

Did think about swapping them over for peace of mind but it was only £25 so not overly bothered.
Didn't sell yours on e.bay by any chance did you.....

 

[Keith Chapman]

No, I did not sell it, it went back to Motorworks as an exchange unit.