StartER & Co

[Chromedome]

Hi all,
thought id take the 850 out for a spin, she doesnt get out much, about 15 months since she was last out. 1980 GS 850L. Battery is just of the charger and under a year old but it would only turn her 4 or 5 times till it started to turn real slow and it was tested only 4 months ago. She was like this last time out to but with a different battery which was faulty. I took the starter off and apart last night, blew it out with the air line tonight, there was ALOT of dry dirt, the small screw from the winding to the brushes wasn't realy tight but wasn't slack either and it looked real good in there. So "IF" the battery and starter are ok what should I look to next ? What prompted me to ask a question, I went to replace the starter and noticed a round hole about 1/2" in the crank case below the starter with only a hose/tube in it about 3/16" like a breather to the gear box, with no seal/grommet in it. Should I seal this up not to allow access from any foreign materials or is this weep hole to allow debri to disperse from below the starter ? Sorry to go on a bit, you can say that again, thanks Guys.

[tom203]

That hole lets water drain out of starter cavity- the "mystery hole". If your battery sat for a long time without being charged occasionally, it's likely a fishing weight. Try a non running car to boost it -it if cranks nicely, you'll know for sure. Hopefully you stabilized your petrol 15 months ago or more fun awaits!

[Chromedome]

Hi tom,
"mystery hole" I think iv possibly heard of it before but to see it as it is must be enlightenment "picture being worth a thousand words" type of thing. The battery was out of another bike which was used frequently that's why I assumed it was ok "Wrong" put it back in the other Gs then I discovered it was knackered. With the new battery in and the auxilery fuel tap of a Briggs and Stratton on with stabilized fuel in, giving carbs time to fill, up she gets, no problem, always a great starter, just show her the key type thing. thanks Tom for all your help, Stephen.

[Redman]

................the small screw from the winding to the brushes wasn't realy tight but wasn't slack either and it looked real good in there. So "IF" the battery and starter are ok what should I look to next ? ......

Bike sat unused for a year... I would suspect the battery, even if it was new a year ago, even if it was recently on a charger.

.

[Redman]

Screws?







My starter is Mitsuba, 4 brushes.
Maybe if yours is Nippondneso (2 brush I think), your could be different.

.

[Chromedome]

Hi, my starter is Mitsuba to, but unlike yours it has only 2 brushes and the face/working side of the brushes is flat, I have never saw brushes like yours with a recessed central surface, to be honest im not big into mechanics I just read away here an pick up whatever tips I can to do what ever mentainance is needed.

[SqDancerLynn1]

I had the starter in my 850 destroy itself Stuck starter clutch ?? Came apart in pieces. Would have been impossible to fix