Bought replacement starter from Rick's Motorsports. Doesn't fit?

[Kev]

Hello. I bought a replacement starter for my 1983 1100GL from Rick's Motorsports. Part number 61-304. Confirmed with them over the phone that this is the right one for my bike. Problem is when i bolt it in to the factory holes and line up the O-Ring I can hear it whir but it doesn't start the bike. After taking it out and inspecting the part it appears that the "gear" inside the bike is only making contact with the face of the shaft. Not the teeth. There are small surface scratches on the face. The first thought i get is whether or not these starters had a "bendix". Meaning that the shaft would extend out like a harley or a car starter? If they are intended to then my starter may be corrupt because i hooked up it up to a battery and it spins but does not extend. If this is not the case any other suggestions? I appreciate any advice as this is my first bike (over 425cc's anyway) and also the first issue i have had with it.

[bmac]

Starter

Perhaps the poliarity is reversed from the rebuilder. Such has the stator is turning but in the opposite direction to engage the starter drive.

[rustybronco]

The shaft doesn't extend. the "bendix" is the starter clutch.

http://www.alpha-sports.com/spst/1983%20GS1100GL/45.gif

see No's 5-6-7

[Kev]

Perhaps the poliarity is reversed from the rebuilder. Such has the stator is turning but in the opposite direction to engage the starter drive.

Do you know what direction it should turn?

[chef1366]

Counterclockwise on the stator side.
Remove the stator cover and see what's going on.

[Kev]

I would say, Remove your starter assembly, leave the starter connected to the terminal post (+) ground your starter to the engine which simulates the normal condition. Hit the starter button this will tell you when if the starter drive extends outward. If it does not my guess would be the starter field is reversed. Perhaps unscrewing the case and turning 180 degrees and reattaching the starter to the test set-up. See then if the starter drive extends.

I thought it wasn't supposed to extend? Sorry to be a noob guys. I'm new to motorcycles and even newer to electronics. What exactly is a stator?

[chef1366]

It does not extend.
The starter clutch controls the catch of the engine.

[Billy Ricks]

More than likely a bad starter clutch.

[Kev]

What will happen if the starter clutch is bad?

[Kev]

Ok guys i did some research. Found a great article here- "http://www.dansmc.com/electric_starters.htm". Now i understand that the starter clutch uses rollers to lock the crankshaft into the starter gear. My question is this. How Can I tell if the starter gear is bad? The reason I believe this could be the case is because i was riding when this thing died. The inside of the old starter was destroyed. I believe what happened was it stopped making contact with the starter gear and burned up from running at a high speed without touching the gear. So how can i check the gear?

[rustybronco]

So how can i check the gear?

Look for cracks in the starter clutch housing, broken/damaged/missing springs, damaged rollers and (or) sheared bolts.

[Kev]

Look for cracks in the starter clutch housing, broken/damaged/missing springs, damaged rollers and (or) sheared bolts.

like i said im pretty sure it aint the clutch since the starter motor is brand new. But according to the link i posted the starter motor spinning at high speeds without catching the gear could cause the starter motor to get destroyed because it is only meant to work for a few seconds at a time. My old starter is absolutely fried, brushes, stator and all. This tells me that the old one probably was not catching the gear either. I don't want to tear apart the new starter because, well, it's new....and i dont think there is anything wrong with it. From what i can gather from that article starters don't just burn up. They are usually rebuildable unless they have been overworked. My goal then would be to check the "starter gear" that the shaft is intended to catch to see if it is ground down or worn. Does anyone have any advice to offer on this?

BTW i did find a small spring on the ground near my bike shortly after this happened.

[SqDancerLynn1]

The fact that the starter was destroyed says the starter clutch did not release the last time it worked. That's why it is torn up inside. Now the new starter just wines. The starter clutch is broken ??? With the starter out, reach in the hole and turn the idler gear- if working should only turn in one direction- OR take the stator cover off and watch to see if the starter gear turns. BE careful there is a spacer washer on both sides of the idler gear

[Guy]

The fact that the starter was destroyed says the starter clutch did not release the last time it worked. That's why it is torn up inside. Now the new starter just wines. The starter clutch is broken ??? With the starter out, reach in the hole and turn the idler gear- if working should only turn in one direction- OR take the stator cover off and watch to see if the starter gear turns. BE careful there is a spacer washer on both sides of the idler gear

Yep.
Jammed starter clutch has shredded the old starter motor. Happened to my old GS1000 when I bored it out, the higher compression of the wiseco kit damaged the starter clutch which failed spectacularly and dragged the starter to bits.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

One of us is confused. Let me see if I can clear this up.

The starter clutch is not in the starter itself. The new starter you have is probably just fine.

The starter clutch is in the gears behind the stator, under the stator cover on the left side of your engine. (Left side as you sit on the bike.)

Here you see the starter clutch gears on the left side of the picture.



The gear from your new starter goes through the starter cavity hole and fits on that smaller gear on top. Please forgive me if I state the obvious.

(Disregard the labels for the bevel gear fill and drain plugs. They're for shaft drive 850G and larger.) Once you take off the stator cover, you will find the stator bolted to the inside of the cover.



This is the stator that is part of your charging system, that keeps the battery charged. It doesn't have anything to do with your starter issue. I just thought I'd let you know what to expect.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff