Starter Motor

[Popeye]

1150GSA, 2004, circa 30k miles.

Starter motor (I think) is, failing to disengage properly on start up and screeches like a banchee.

The noise can be pretty much replicated by hitting the starter button with the engine running.

I've stripped the starter motor completely, magnets are fine, brushes are fine, armature is fine. De-greased and cleaned the bendix (sp) mechanism and re-assembled it.

Still screeches on start up, when the bike is cold. once it's warmed up it seems ok.

Any thoughts as to what else I could try.

 

[Stewart H]

The work you describe made mine quiet, I solvent cleaned all the bendix stuff and blew it dry, greased the reduction gears and managed to get a little grease into the bushes on the ends of the armature, you must be bloody close to a cure, I know airhead starters seem to screech when the bush in the back end gets dry, perhaps a dab of something there will sort it.
Stewart

 

[Colban]

Have you checked the alternator belt tension?.
They screech if loose.

 

[Popeye]

Have you checked the alternator belt tension?.
They screech if loose.

I know where you're coming from, but it's definately not that.

Proving to be a bit of head scratcher

 

[Strappy]

Mine does that occasionally too, seems to happen if the bike's got wet for some reason. Last time it'd been parked out in the rain, no idea if it's getting in somewhere but it doesn't seem likely.

How often do you use the bike? I hadn't ridden for a few weeks but since I've been using it every day over the last couple of weeks it's only done it on the first day.

 

[The smudger]

HI Popeye,

My 1150 GSA has been doing exactly what you describe for the last yr/10k miles, i have stopped worrying about it now mate, long as it starts? A colleague at work heard it and commented but as i said, it starts so i've given up worrying about it.

Steve.

 

[raginmund]

HI Popeye,

My 1150 GSA has been doing exactly what you describe for the last yr/10k miles, i have stopped worrying about it now mate, long as it starts? A colleague at work heard it and commented but as i said, it starts so i've given up worrying about it.

Steve.

Mine's done it for the least 6000 miles or so. I keep riding, but have an AA card in my top-pocket..

 

[kwallace21]

Mines used to do that until I stopped picking my feet!
Mind you, it was on a long run to Poughkeepsie.