starter problems

[bigbadwolf]

Hey All,
I've got an 83 gs650 g shaft drive. The problem I'm having is that since I replaced the starter, it looks like something is hanging up behind the cover. When I took the cover off, the starter spins fine, once I put the cover back on and tighten it down, it dowsnt' want to spin as it should. I've had this thing apart a few times and can't figure out what's jamming it up. The only thing that I've really changed is using gasket maker instead of a cork gasket (which IIRC, it was a paper gasket the first time I tore it apart). Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Colin Green]

Lol.
Pictures of your bike please. You have to bait the boys with a bit of self generated bike porn or they won't come out and play. Dirt and crud is no problem to these lads so don't be shy

[SqDancerLynn1]

There is a washer /shim on both sides of the idler gear. The thickness of the gasket is very important for the proper clearance. Only use OEM gasket !!!!

[Colin Green]

While you are waiting for some kind soul to help you out with a bit more advice here's a thread that may be of interest.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=167956

[Steve]

Colin, how is that thread going to do anything to help a guy with his starter problems?

Yeah, it's interesting all right, but nothing about starters, let alone problems with one.

.

[bigbadwolf]

Colin, how is that thread going to do anything to help a guy with his starter problems?

Yeah, it's interesting all right, but nothing about starters, let alone problems with one.

.

Well, he never actually said that it would help, just that I'd be interested LOL. It was neat to read about the plastic welding. The only thing that I've ever had luck with is fiberglass.

There is a washer /shim on both sides of the idler gear. The thickness of the gasket is very important for the proper clearance. Only use OEM gasket !!!!

didn't see any washers or shims. I might have to get through bike bandit then. I kinda figured that the gasket might have something to do with it but it seems like the cork gasket would just get crushed down to about the same size as the gasket maker anyway so I wasn't sure. Thanks for the tip. Now I know where to start looking.

Lol.
Pictures of your bike please. You have to bait the boys with a bit of self generated bike porn or they won't come out and play. Dirt and crud is no problem to these lads so don't be shy

LOL. Ok, just be advised, the garage is a mess (recently put on a new roof and a dozen other projects in a holding or working pattern) and this bike was a rescue! LOL. It went through a few itterations.. I'll try posting some tommorrow and maybe a history of the bike thread since I've had it.

[tom203]

Hey All,
I've got an 83 gs650 g shaft drive. The problem I'm having is that since I replaced the starter, it looks like something is hanging up behind the cover. When I took the cover off, the starter spins fine, once I put the cover back on and tighten it down, it dowsnt' want to spin as it should. I!

You did replace starter with correct one, right??? The shaftie 650's use an oddball starter. The mounting flange at back end of starter (where the two bolts go thru) is recessed to allow back end to set lower into crankcase. Other starters would fit but they would be tilted up. Compare your original starter with the replacement to make sure!

[Colin Green]

Colin, how is that thread going to do anything to help a guy with his starter problems?

Yeah, it's interesting all right, but nothing about starters, let alone problems with one.

.

Asked and answered, but there was also a slight ulterior motive.

tkent02 seems to know his way around his machines and as he is working on a
650G and spends lots of time posting advice (wheres that darn tongue in cheek smiley) I figured that bigbadwolf might step into the thread and and manage to sidle up to and eek a bit of advice out of him.

[Graham]

There is a washer /shim on both sides of the idler gear. The thickness of the gasket is very important for the proper clearance. Only use OEM gasket !!!!

Very true. A quick test would be to loosen the cover screws a little and tap the starter button. If starter turns it’s the gasket, if not the problem is something else. BTW, he needs to pull the plug wires first he wouldn't want the bike to start running.

[Colin Green]

I just did a search under 'starter' (in the thread titles) and got the following which may yield some positive results for you.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=167457&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=167495&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=167204&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=167064&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=167031&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=166896&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=166878&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=163024&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=166818&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=166027&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=165970&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=123877&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=164147&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=165648&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=163460&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=164837&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=164687&highlight=starter

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=162971&highlight=starter

That is just a few of the 500 threads that came up in the search results

[bigbadwolf]

Thanks. I tried searching under something like starter jammed or starter stuck. I didn't think to just search under starter LOL. thanks again!

[bigbadwolf]

You did replace starter with correct one, right??? The shaftie 650's use an oddball starter. The mounting flange at back end of starter (where the two bolts go thru) is recessed to allow back end to set lower into crankcase. Other starters would fit but they would be tilted up. Compare your original starter with the replacement to make sure!

I'll definately look into that! thanks!

Very true. A quick test would be to loosen the cover screws a little and tap the starter button. If starter turns it’s the gasket, if not the problem is something else. BTW, he needs to pull the plug wires first he wouldn't want the bike to start running.

Thanks to you too Graham! Sometimes the simplest ideas that are right in front of our faces are just too hard to see LOL!

[Graham]

Thanks to you too Graham! Sometimes the simplest ideas that are right in front of our faces are just too hard to see LOL!

Glad to be of help.

[bigbadwolf]

Well, here's the bike porn that's been requested LOL

I had side covers on it that a friend painted up for me, unfortunately I can only upload one pic :-/ Anyhow, it fell off one day and shattered into a million pieces. I've been making up ones from polished diamond plate aluminum. Pics to come. Thanks for the advice everyone!

[bigbadwolf]

update on the starter situation. Got a gasket from bike bandit but it didn't look much more significant in terms of width than w the bead of gasket maker. Apparently the tolerances are that important! Sure enough, it worked. Though there is a fine line between too tight and oil leak I'm finding. In anycase, the right torque and gasket made all the difference. Thanks again everyone for your help!