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Bad starter motor?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jrobert94
  • Start date Start date
J

jrobert94

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My 1980 GS1000G has been starting pretty easily for the past month or so. I even went away for a week and it sat with no float charger, and it started with little hesitation then when i returned. Then the next morning it wouldn't turn over. It seemed like a dead battery (relay clicks, motor tries and bogs, lights dim) which made no sense considering the battery is only about a month old. I tried to jump it from a deep cycle marine battery i've used for this before on several occasions, it still wouldn't turn over and the motor-side terminal on the starter relay started to smoke. So i temporarily gave up, put it all away and went late to work. When i got home i found that the bike battery reads around 12.5v with the key off, and stays there with the key on, but drops to around 5 or 6v when i hit the starter button. I tried jumping it again from the big battery, which did get it to turn over and eventually start, but it made that terminal smoke again (insulation was melting near it), and also the battery ground and positive wires got hot too.
To me, this says the starter motor is drawing too much current. It doesn't smoke when i use just the bike battery because that can't supply enough current to heat up, while obviously the big battery does. Does this seem like a reasonable explanation? This would seem like i need a new one right? Or at least a rebuild
 
Could also just be loose or corroded connections, or a damaged wire -- it's definitely worth checking the battery and starter cables and connections. And don't forget to check both ends of the ground wire.

I've seen cables on bikes and cars that look OK upon casual inspection, but are corroded and green inside at one end. Take them out and check carefully.
 
Your starter motor is drawing too much current (probably already killed your sorta new battery). - but make sure you don't have a starter clutch issue by pulling off stator cover and taking a look.
In your case, I'd probably skip the rebuild attempt and just get a decent used unit- might be a member on here who has one to sell.
 
I really doubt the starter clutch is messed up, i rebuilt that probably around 6 months ago but i'll check anyway to be safe. I'll check the cables too but i don't see how the connections could get corroded so quickly all of a sudden. I guess i might make up new cables to be safe. What are they like 10 gauge?
 
I see Ricks starter motors on ebay around $150-$180. They look nice in the pictures but they aren't OEM. Anyone have any experience with these?
 
As far as I know, Ricks sells remanufactured units. Your starter was used on many models here's a list.can you read the p/n ? 31100-45040 ?Post in parts wanted forum here- someone's bound to have a good unit or visit cycle graveyard!




Alpha-Sports


- Part Number Cross-Reference - Where Used


Part Number or Accessory Name


1977 SUZUKI GS400B - STARTING MOTOR (GS4008)
1977 SUZUKI GS400XB - STARTING MOTOR (GS4008)
1977 SUZUKI GS550B - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA ELECTRIC)
1977 SUZUKI GS750B - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA)
1978 SUZUKI GS1000C & EC - STARTING MOTOR
1978 SUZUKI GS400C - STARTING MOTOR (GS400C)-2
1978 SUZUKI GS550C - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA ELECTRIC)
1978 SUZUKI GS550EC - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA ELECTRIC)
1978 SUZUKI GS750C - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA)
1978 SUZUKI GS750EC - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA)
1979 SUZUKI GS1000LN - STARTING MOTOR
1979 SUZUKI GS1000N & EN - STARTING MOTOR
1979 SUZUKI GS1000SN - STARTING MOTOR
1979 SUZUKI GS550EN - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA ELECTRIC)
1979 SUZUKI GS550LN - Untitled
1979 SUZUKI GS550N - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA ELECTRIC)
1979 SUZUKI GS750EN - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA)
1979 SUZUKI GS750LN - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA)
1979 SUZUKI GS750N - STARTING MOTOR (MITSUBA)
1979 SUZUKI GS850GN - STARTING MOTOR
1980 GS850GL - STARTING MOTOR
1980 SUZUKI GS1000ET - STARTING MOTOR
1980 SUZUKI GS1000GLT - STARTING MOTOR
1980 SUZUKI GS1000GT - STARTING MOTOR
1980 SUZUKI GS1000ST - STARTING MOTOR
1980 SUZUKI GS750ET - STARTING MOTOR
1980 SUZUKI GS750LT - STARTING MOTOR
1980 SUZUKI GS850GT - STARTING MOTOR
1981 SUZUKI GS1000GLX - STARTING MOTOR
1981 SUZUKI GS1000GX - STARTING MOTOR
1981 SUZUKI GS750EX - STARTING MOTOR
1981 SUZUKI GS750LX - STARTING MOTOR
1981 SUZUKI GS850GLX - STARTING MOTOR
1981 SUZUKI GS850GX - STARTING MOTOR
1982 SUZUKI GS850GLZ - STARTING MOTOR (MODEL Z)
 
Cool thanks for the info. I just ordered a Ricks one off of ebay. I read they have a one year warranty, and it wasn't too expensive either. I don't think i'm taking too much of a gamble on this one, it's a pretty simple system.
And unfortunately i don't think there are any cycle graveyards at all around here! None i know of at least.
 
i'm with bwringer, i'd check those wires first. but then i am lazy, i always look for the easy cheap things first.
 
Eh, worst case is he's got a spare starter.

For future reference, another good resource for starters and starter parts is Stocker's Starters: http://www.stockers.com/
 
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