Starter Trouble?

[RevRoy]

Today, I fired up my GS550 and rode it for about 30 minutes (15 miles), and it ran perfectly. Going into the garage, I killed the engine. When I went to start it, all it did was CLICK. This continued three more times. I left the bike and returned ten minutes later and it started.

This happened one other time, when I flooded the bike on a cold start. After three attempts to start it, it just clicked when I pressed the starter button. After 10 minutes or so, it started.

Could this be selonoid trouble, a loose connection, or what?

Thanks

[whiteboyslo]

from my experience with cars, i would say it's more of a solenoid issue. GM starters did the exact same thing, and it was always the solenoid.

Mike

[chuckycheese]

Solenoid?

In my opinion, it is most definitely not the solenoid! If you hear a 'click', your solenoid is just fine. Thousands of solenoids are sold, each year, for cars and bikes when the old one is in perfect working order. They are a very simple device and only relay the charge...if they click, they're doing their job and creating the connection. If you want to check this further, take a screwdriver and bridge the two connections; you'll accomplish exactly the same thing.

Either your battery is low, you have a bad connection or the armature within the starter is expanding and not allowing it to turn over....when it sits for a few minutes, it cools off and reduces in size, allowing it to spin freely. Your brushes may also be the problem. One thing I feel sure of is that the problem is not with the solenoid.....

Hopefully, others smarter than me will add some help.

[RevRoy]

Thanks, guys. The cooling off period and then starting had me thinking it's probably not a selanoid because I think they either work or don't ... they usually do not fade in and out. I also thought about the starter, but the day I flooded the engine and it began clicking heat was not an issue. I haven't had the bike too long, and I was wondering about the battery. I was working on the lights one day a few weeks ago and it seemed as if the battery ran down pretty quickly. On that day, I jumped it from my wife's car, and since then the battery has (seemingly) given me no trouble. Today, when it began clicking, the lights, radio, etc, all worked. But I think I'll put a load test on it and see what's what.

Thanks again, and if anyone has any more words of wisdom I'd appreciate hearing them.

[bubba]

I agree, it's not the solenoid.I had the same issue with a Honda. It was the starter. Got a rebuilt from Stockers and it worked fine. For a while. Same issue, the rebuilt starter was defective (that could only happen to me). But Stockers made good on it and sent me another one. Worked great, no more issues. I would recommend Stockers starters, free shipping to you and free shipping of the core. Great guy.

[chuckycheese]

Yeah!

Yeah, Bubba may have the right idea...or, the reverend's problem just might be his battery; which is an easy fix... let us know! (It's always helpful to each of us).:-D

[jbs80106]

clean your starter!

Same problem on my 650. Took the starter out, took it apart and it was gunked up with dirt/oil that had gotten into the unit. Cleaned it out really well, reassembled and check the contact between the brushes and the copper round thing (thats a technical term!). Contacts were good, springs were still strong, put it back together the rest of the way Hooked it up to a battery to make sure it would spin.....back in business!

Dropped it back in and haven't had a problem.

NOTE: Check the wire that goes down to the starter to verify you're getting voltage there first.

Removal was a bit of a bassturd. Had to move the carbs outta the way. 2 really long bolts are what holds the starter together.

I'd try that before I bought a new one. New was like $100+ bucks. You'll have to remove the old one anyway so might as well see if its just dirty.....

[RevRoy]

I checked my battery (load test and cells) and found it okay. While digging around beneath the seat, I found something interesting ... some 14-3 Romex, which is 14 gauge household wiring! The former owner had spliced this into the wiring just behind the battery.

I was amazed that the wiring did not burn up, or that GS would even start, with this tiny gauge wiring. I replaced the terminals (neg and pos) with the proper stranded wire, and she now fires right up. She also seems to run a bit better, and the headlight no longer dims while the engine is idling.

Thanks for all the kind advice. BTW, Father's day was a gorgeous one, and I left at 0730 hrs and rode around the lake and on our winding country roads until 1040 hrs. Hope all you fathers were able to do something as sweet.

[runewolf]

Good gravy! Some people should not be allowed near wiring! Glad nothing bad happened as well.