• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Starter...

  • Thread starter Thread starter FlyingSteve
  • Start date Start date
F

FlyingSteve

Guest
I swear, by the time I am done working on this bike, I will have a brand new GS550. All the money I've spent on it so far, I could have bought a much newer bike... Ugh.

Ok, so now I just got done working on the bike all day. Put the Dynojet kit in, new valve cover gasket, etc, etc etc... Now the starter is acting up. Hit the start button and the starter relay just buzzes madly. Took a hammer to the starter for a few wacks and then the starter kicks in and starts doing its job again... Thought maybe I got lucky because it kept working, so I put the cover back on and now it's acting up again!

I'm not too familiar with starters... But I'm guessing I need new brushes? Sound right?
 
On my GSX550 and GSX250 I have had that problem, either no spin or very slow spin. For me it was due to the PO leaving the bikes unused for extended periods (and maybe myself for letting water accumulate around the starter, butI reserve the right to blame the PO).

I pulled the starter out and disassembled it. Two screws, then overcome the magnetic pull. Check the brushes, they are likely to have plenty of meat left on them. Now just touch up the commutator(?), the part where the brushes rub using some light sandpaper.

Reassemble and test. You should be all good.
 
FlyingSteve said:
... Now the starter is acting up. ... Took a hammer to the starter for a few wacks and then the starter kicks in and starts doing its job again... ... I put the cover back on and now it's acting up again!

I'm not too familiar with starters... But I'm guessing I need new brushes? Sound right?
Click to expand...
Either that or just carry a hammer with you. :-\\\


FlyingSteve said:
I swear, by the time I am done working on this bike, I will have a brand new GS550. All the money I've spent on it so far, I could have bought a much newer bike... Ugh.
Click to expand...
If you are worried about the money you have spent, you might have made a wrong choice. :-k

Some guys will be hesitant to get a particular part or tool because "that's more than I paid for the bike". Hogwash. I got a bike for FREE. Does that mean I should not have to (or want to) pay for anything related to that bike? No. It only means I have that much more money available to spend on getting that bike ready for the road. By the way, "Freebie" (the free bike) took over $900 in parts to get back on the road safely. If I had to figure in a cost for my time, it would not have been worth it, but there are times that I consider working on a project bike as "therapy".

.
 
GSX550 gave some good advice. Polish the commutator and gently clean out the grooves on it. Someone here can probably give you the service limit on the brushes.
 
Service limit on the brushes on my bike is 6mm or .24". Yours should be about the same.
 
Don't over tighten the screw when you put it back together
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ukjules
Starter motor needs a tap to work recently
Replies
18
Views
315
ukjules
ukjules
oldGSfan
Something hinky with GS1100E starter or starter clutch?
Replies
16
Views
353
oldGSfan
oldGSfan
E
Electrical gremlins affecting indicator lights and starter circuit
Replies
9
Views
208
eldevigo
E
O
Did I just fry the starter motor?
Replies
5
Views
152
oldsecret
O
MiahSlays6332
No Power/ No start. All Elec. Verified.
Replies
6
Views
181
argonsagas
argonsagas
Back
Top