850- where's the drain?

[Big T]

I just picked up an 850, trying to see if it will run. The starter gave a big click, engine didn't turn over.

I pulled the ignition cover and the motor turns over. I pulled the starter cover and found it 1/2 submerged in water. I pulled the starter and drained the hole by leaning the bike over.

There's a 1/4" of oil/water scum in the starter well. Where the heck is the drain hole? I need to get the well cleaned out so it doesn't flood the starter again.

[chef1366]

There is a drain hole down there. Take off the front sprocket cover and find the hole near the stator cover. Run some stiff cable up it to break it loose. Or call Rotor Rooter. :-D

[Big T]

Not a bad idea, but I was hoping to find it on top, because i'm trying to take as few things apart as possible to see if it runs.
So where does it come out on top?

[psyguy]

can't remember where it is for sure, but if you clean the area with a hose (with a decent pressure) you'll be able to see the drain channel

[Redman]

I know my 80 850G had something of a drain hole, but dont recall specificaly where.

[Big T]

can't remember where it is for sure, but if you clean the area with a hose (with a decent pressure) you'll be able to see the drain channel

Um, it'll be under all the dirty water

[psyguy]

if you look under the engine's left side cover (no need to take the cover off), it's somewhere near the gear indicator switch (if i remember correctly)
you may be able to work it from that side up

[psyguy]

i did some footwork to my garage and had a look at my clean \\/ engine , yup, there's a compartment to the left of the gear switch and a hole 10mm or so is (should be) visible
how's that for help?

[bwringer]

Ahhh, the mystery hole.

A couple of times a year, someone absolutely panics because they spot a hole in their GS's engine, so the mystery hole must be explained.

You, on the other hand, are actually looking for a drainage hole, so you're ahead of the game there.

These photos (from a mostly junked 1983 GS850 engine) should clarify the matter. You need to remove the starter to access the upper mystery hole. The lower mystery hole is hard to spot until you get down on the floor, but you may be able to get a piece of wire or something in there and jostle the obstruction loose. I placed a piece of blue tubing through the mystery holes to illustrate.

I wouldn't put it past someone to have plugged the lower mystery hole with JB Weld or something. When the o-ring around the nose of the starter begins to leak, the oil escapes via the lower mystery hole and leads to hysteria, fainting, panic, and strange behavior.

Upper MH -- the threaded holes for the two bolts that hold the starter in are just inside the orange circle. To remove the starter, you undo these and slide the starter to the right, then out.



Lower MH:

[Big T]

Thanks.
I went out yesterday and scraped away the 1/4" of oily scum and found the hole. There were some solids in the scum and one of those was blocking the drain hole.
I'm still trying to remove all the scum before reinstalling the starter.

[chef1366]

I was wondering when you would show Brian. :-D

[bwringer]

Thanks.
I went out yesterday and scraped away the 1/4" of oily scum and found the hole. There were some solids in the scum and one of those was blocking the drain hole.
I'm still trying to remove all the scum before reinstalling the starter.

"Solids in the scum"? :shock:

I don't want to know, do I? It sorta gives me the willies.


Make sure you put a new o-ring on the starter nose before you reinstall it, or you'll have oil leaking from the lower mystery hole. It's a standard metric size -- I can't quite remember whether it's 24 X 3mm or 26 X 3mm. You might be able to find an inch size o-ring that would work, too.

Does the starter even work after being underwater all that time?



BTW, "Solids in the Scum" or maybe "Scum Solids" would be a great name for a rock band. Or "Solid Scum."

"Greasy Mystery Hole" would be a good band name, too, but people might get the wrong idea.

[Big T]

Does the starter even work after being underwater all that time?

Well, I took it apart and cleaned up the armature , sprayed out the magnets, and hooked it up. Battery drops to 6.5V and it barely turns
So I guess it's back to the bench for that one

I pulled the one from my spare GS 1000, and tested it. Voltage drops to 11.75 and it really spins.
I slid it into the well, but it doesn't want to go all the way in. The bolt holes are about 3mm short of where they should be.

GRRR

What could be wrong? I pulled the sidecover and it's not binding on the gear. Still can't match up the bolt holes in the case and starter

[BassCliff]

Starter fits?

I slid it into the well, but it doesn't want to go all the way in. The bolt holes are about 3mm short of where they should be.

Mr. Big T,

I read a thread recently where the poster performed a cross-model starter swap. He had to swap the starter case parts (where the bolt holes are) and then the starter fit right in. Was that you Mr. Nessism? Let me see if i can find that thread and add it in an edit.

EDIT: Found it. Maybe this will work. Mr. Dark Jedi posted this in the Tips section: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=119579

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[bwringer]

Usually, you have to use a lever to push the starter in a bit -- the o-ring has to compress and slide into the hole in the case.