where does the hole on the starter motor housing on GS1000G drain to?

[DaveWatts]

Hi,

I was replacing the starter motor cable on my GS1000g when I lost the nut, I tried to fish it out but it seemed to disappear at the front of the starter motor. It seems there is a hole there somewhere to drain any water than could accumulate in the starter motor housing and the nut probably went through there. I am just wondering where the nut would then end up? (hopefully it just gets dumped on the ground).

[Buffalo Bill]

Right, it leads out to the bottom of the block.
Once found a pool of oil built up in the starter pocket, when I looked under the engine I found some previous owner had plugged it with epoxy putty!!!
Often called the mystery hole.

[DaveWatts]

Right, it leads out to the bottom of the block.
Once found a pool of oil built up in the starter pocket, when I looked under the engine I found some previous owner had plugged it with epoxy putty!!!
Often called the mystery hole.

And there was I ready to start unscrewing the side cover, when I suddenly twigged, 'why would Suzuki have a hole that can only collect water going into the crankcase?'

Just another question, do you think it would be possible to get the starter out of there without pulling the carbs?

[Buffalo Bill]

Kinda iffy and probably not.
Have not had to remove the starter on my 1100G.

[Redman]

twig²
twiɡ/
verbBRITISH informal

past tense: twigged; past participle: twigged

• understand or realize something.

.

[DaveWatts]

Kinda iffy and probably not.
Have not had to remove the starter on my 1100G.

When I use the starter the voltage drops down to 10V and it only spins a few times, The battery is new and I will replace the cable because that was in bad shape, then retest, but I suspect the starter motor needs a service.

Cheers

Dave

[Redman]

When I use the starter the voltage drops down to 10V and it only spins a few times, The battery is new ....
... ... ... ...

but, is it well charged?

If the cable was bad (or bad connection) it would not be able to drag down the battery voltage.

If cable is in bad shape, yes, it needs to be replaced, but isnt going to cause the symptom you are seeing of dragging down the battery voltage.

[DaveWatts]

but, is it well charged?

If the cable was bad (or bad connection) it would not be able to drag down the battery voltage.

If cable is in bad shape, yes, it needs to be replaced, but isnt going to cause the symptom you are seeing of dragging down the battery voltage.

You're right I should recharge the battery, I charged it before winter and then left it in the cellar, maybe it has drained a bit in the meanwhile. But won't a bad cable mean higher resistance and therefore a voltage drop at the starter (V=IR)? (same goes for worn starter brushes)

[fixmybrokecomputer]

Just another question, do you think it would be possible to get the starter out of there without pulling the carbs?

I've had the starter out of my 82 GS1100GK without pulling the carbs to do so. I would think it would be the same on the 1000.

[DaveWatts]

I've had the starter out of my 82 GS1100GK without pulling the carbs to do so. I would think it would be the same on the 1000.

Great, I'll give that job a go, Its good that I have a Mitsuba starter, should make changing the brushes a breeze

[bwringer]

Ooh, a Mystery Hole question! It must be springtime...

And yes, you can easily remove the starter on GS850, GS1000, and GS1100 shafties without removing the carbs. Not sure about the 650.

Yes, it's a drain hole that passes through an empty area of the engine castings, then out another hole in the bottom. Without a drain hole, the starter cavity would fill with water in the rain, which would make your starter unhappy.

If oil is coming from your Mystery Hole, it's usually the o-ring on the nose of the starter. Sometimes it's a leak further up, such as the cam chain tensioner or oil pressure switch.

It is not uncommon for people to spot one of the Mystery Holes, panic (OMFGWTFBBQ there's a HOLE in my ENGINE!!?!?!?!?!?!!?!!) and attempt to plug it. The Mystery Hole can also sometimes end up plugged with leaves, dirt, or pine needles if the bike has been neglected and left outside under a tree.


The blue tubing in these pics of a dead GS850 engine is only there to show the holes are connected.

[DaveWatts]

Thanks for that, my bike has a hole towards the gear end of the starter, but I found the nut so I guess it passed straight through.

Cheers

Dave

Ooh, a Mystery Hole question! It must be springtime...

And yes, you can easily remove the starter on GS850, GS1000, and GS1100 shafties without removing the carbs. Not sure about the 650.

Yes, it's a drain hole that passes through an empty area of the engine castings, then out another hole in the bottom. Without a drain hole, the starter cavity would fill with water in the rain, which would make your starter unhappy.

If oil is coming from your Mystery Hole, it's usually the o-ring on the nose of the starter. Sometimes it's a leak further up, such as the cam chain tensioner or oil pressure switch.

It is not uncommon for people to spot one of the Mystery Holes, panic (OMFGWTFBBQ there's a HOLE in my ENGINE!!?!?!?!?!?!!?!!) and attempt to plug it. The Mystery Hole can also sometimes end up plugged with leaves, dirt, or pine needles if the bike has been neglected and left outside under a tree.


The blue tubing in these pics of a dead GS850 engine is only there to show the holes are connected.

[DaveWatts]

What I found was a different nut the starter nut was buried in gunk. I took off the starter motor and had a look inside, what a mess!
IMAG0078.jpg

[DaveWatts]

I tried poking around with a tube but couldn't get it to come out the bottom. Anyway I tried cleaning the starter housing, removing all the leaf mush etc. My cleaning solution made it on to the floor, so I guess the hole is doing its job.

Ooh, a Mystery Hole question! It must be springtime...

And yes, you can easily remove the starter on GS850, GS1000, and GS1100 shafties without removing the carbs. Not sure about the 650.

Yes, it's a drain hole that passes through an empty area of the engine castings, then out another hole in the bottom. Without a drain hole, the starter cavity would fill with water in the rain, which would make your starter unhappy.

If oil is coming from your Mystery Hole, it's usually the o-ring on the nose of the starter. Sometimes it's a leak further up, such as the cam chain tensioner or oil pressure switch.

It is not uncommon for people to spot one of the Mystery Holes, panic (OMFGWTFBBQ there's a HOLE in my ENGINE!!?!?!?!?!?!!?!!) and attempt to plug it. The Mystery Hole can also sometimes end up plugged with leaves, dirt, or pine needles if the bike has been neglected and left outside under a tree.


The blue tubing in these pics of a dead GS850 engine is only there to show the holes are connected.