Starter not working when hot.

[victorgallas]

Hey,

So my starter has been randomly giving me a problem that once the bike is warm and I shut it down and try to restart after being off for like 5 to 10 minutes, the starter wont turn over as if there was not battery.
So i checked the battery and the voltage was good, then I checked my voltage regulator and stator and those are good. Did these tests with the engine running as per the manual of course. I have also checked the wires from the battery to the relay and the relay to the starter and its good. The engine ground is where it should be and for extra measure after the first incident I added a ground wire bolted at the starter body to the ground at the battery. So it cannot be a grounding issue...
This happened again to me just a little ago, so this time I put a battery starter that you can use to help start the engine with it and the starter did not turn as well. But I did hear the starter solenoid click over.
But then after letting it sit a while she turns over like it should..

So it seems I have a hot start up problem. I did some research and some sites mentioned that the starter clutch can wear down and cause excessive drag when hot, anyone had trouble with this? The starter clutch is at the end of the crankshaft. Anyone know if you require special pullers to take it apart?

I did rebuild the starter before installing it and all the checks on the armature where good, so I just don't think is the starter necessarily...

Any ideas are welcome.

Thanks

[tom203]

What's the voltage at battery (when it doesn't hot start) as you crank it? In any event, it sounds like your starter motor is shot-you can try another rebuild, but you might be better off scooping a used one off ebay for $30.

[Agemax]

sounds like the starter motor. as said they are readily available on ebay or have you got someone you can borrow one from to try it before you buy another?

[victorgallas]

Hey, thanks for the replies.

The one I have on it right now was one that I got off ebay, so I guess I got a bad
I do have the original still, so I will put that in and see how it goes.

What are you guys opinions about the rebuild kit? I mean the rebuilt kit replaces seals, bearings and the brushes, but you dont do anything to the armature itself. Does the armature goes bad often?


Thanks

[jbs80106]

How long ago did you open up the starter and clean it out? Symptoms sound similar to my experiences. Flakey response from the starter. Removed it, cleaned it. Brushes 'okay'. Worked okay for a few months but not perfect. Opened it up to replace the brushes, cleaned it out (again) and it was good for a season. The next spring problems again...opened it up, one of the magnets had come loose and was making the spindle hard to turn (mag field not balanced).....epoxied the magnet back in place, cleaned out the bit of grease/grime in there and problem solved!

I'd pull it out, look inside before buying another one. Not much that can go 'bad' with it IMO.

[victorgallas]

Before I installed the unit I had it apart and cleaned everything and checked everything like the manual says, I did that like a year ago, but only this summer I got the bike back together. So the starter has only been in service for about 3 weeks now.

I will take the other one apart and do a good clean and check like you mentioned.

The only thing I feel that could break down with time would be the insulation on the wires on the armature of the starter, but IDK how good the core on these starter are...

How long ago did you open up the starter and clean it out? Symptoms sound similar to my experiences. Flakey response from the starter. Removed it, cleaned it. Brushes 'okay'. Worked okay for a few months but not perfect. Opened it up to replace the brushes, cleaned it out (again) and it was good for a season. The next spring problems again...opened it up, one of the magnets had come loose and was making the spindle hard to turn (mag field not balanced).....epoxied the magnet back in place, cleaned out the bit of grease/grime in there and problem solved!

I'd pull it out, look inside before buying another one. Not much that can go 'bad' with it IMO.

[hampshirehog]

Your brushes are worn out (or stuck) and / or the commutator is dirty. Classic symptoms and an easy fix.

Service manual will give you a service limit on the length of the brushes but they're cheap so if you have got the thing in bits and they're less than 10mm on any bike just renew as a matter of course.

Clean the commutator with white spirit or the like and give it a buff with T cut (make sure you give it a good wipe to remove any trace before re-fitting).

She'll spin like a good 'un.

[victorgallas]

\
Thanks for the input everyone. I actually had a spare starter and so I replaced it and now she is good. Starts right up, hopefully it will keep working like she should.
I was able to replace the starter without having to remove the cam chain tensioner, just had to maneuver it carefully but it worked

thanks for the input everyone...

anyone care for buying a non functional starter? ill give it away for 20 plus shipping. I took it apart and i didnt see any mechanical damage, just maybe a little rebuild kit and you should be good to go with it.

PM if interested, I can supply pics.

Your brushes are worn out (or stuck) and / or the commutator is dirty. Classic symptoms and an easy fix.

Service manual will give you a service limit on the length of the brushes but they're cheap so if you have got the thing in bits and they're less than 10mm on any bike just renew as a matter of course.

Clean the commutator with white spirit or the like and give it a buff with T cut (make sure you give it a good wipe to remove any trace before re-fitting).

She'll spin like a good 'un.