Bad Starter?

[Anonymous]

I have an 82 GS 650 that I was trying to get started the other day and after a while the starter stopped turning. The relay clicks but nothing else happened. I decided to pull the starter and try to test it. I took it out and put the jumper cables to it and get nothing, but if I turn the starter by hand while giving it power it will occasionally spin for a moment and then stop. What sort of problem would this be and is there a way to fix it? Would I have to rebuild the starter? Any help is appreciated.

[focus frenzy]

sounds like fried, worn, or stuck brushes, you will need to open it up and look at the brushes.
a good alternator starter repair place should be able to rebuild it pretty cheep.
where in Texas are you located at, and have you read the topic on the spring GS/KZ hill country ride? the more the merrier!!!

[Anonymous]

I'm in San Marcos, just south of Austin.

[focus frenzy]

I'm in San Marcos, just south of Austin.

lucky you! there is mile after mile of great motorcycle roads right in your back yard!
we poor flat landers up north have to ride down three hundred miles to ejoy those roads.

[SqDancerLynn1]

If you have the skills to do it yourself http://www.cyclewareables.com/pages/...tartmtrkit.htm

[Anonymous]

Somehow, in the process of taking the starter apart and putting it back together I apparently did something that got it running again. I put it back in the bike and put everything back together again but now, the starter spins and nothing else happens I'm getting nothing at the plugs, is this most likely an unrelated problem or is there somthing that I could have done putting things back together to cause this? I wasn't having any other trouble with it before the starter went out.

[SqDancerLynn1]

I would check the coil wires make sure everything is pluged in

[Anonymous]

I've checked all the connections. There doesn't seem to be anything loose or disconnected.

[earlfor]

"The starter spins and nothing else happens" What does that mean?
Does the engine crank over, or do you just hear the sound of the starter freewheeling and the engine is not turning over? What kind of ignition do you have. IE.......stock electronic, points, Dyna S, Dyna III, Dyna 2000 or ??

Earl

Somehow, in the process of taking the starter apart and putting it back together I apparently did something that got it running again. I put it back in the bike and put everything back together again but now, the starter spins and nothing else happens I'm getting nothing at the plugs, is this most likely an unrelated problem or is there somthing that I could have done putting things back together to cause this? I wasn't having any other trouble with it before the starter went out.

[Anonymous]

If you take a starter with bad brushes apart and clean it you usually get a few more weeks of use before the next time it quits. Next time around (if it happens) I suggest you measure your brushes. The positive brush wears about twice as fast as the ground and when its shot it covers the commutator with carbon which prevents the starter from turning.

Steve

[Anonymous]

Brushes are inexpensive, just change them while you have it out. And as Earl pointed out, sounds like the started is freewheeling.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I can hear the starter spinnning but nothing else happens. What does this mean?

[earlfor]

If the starter spins and nothing else, there are only two possibilities.
Either the drive gear/shaft is not in place or broken, or the starter clutch mounting bolts have broken off. Drain the oil out of the crankcase first. Put the bike on the center stand in neutral. Either way, you will have to remove the stator cover (left side of engine) You can use a piece of cord to hang the cover from a handlebar so as to take the tension off the stator wires. You do not need to remove the stator. Inside the case on the top right opposite the starter you will find a shaft with a couple small gears on it. The shaft will slide out and the gears can be removed easily with your fingers. Inspect the gears and shaft for damage. If they appear OK, reinstall them. Turn the ignition on and bump the starter lightly. You should see the gears move. If the gears move, you will see that one gear should turn the starter clutch assembly that is located behind the rotor housing. If you see this clutch assembly spinning but the crankshaft is not turning, then your starter clutch mounting bolts are broken off and will have to be replaced. You will need to remove the rotor and that takes a special rotor removal tool that will cost about $30. If you need to remove the rotor, BUY THE TOOL. Because, if you mess up the crankshaft threads or damage your rotor, it is going to COST bucks.......and without the right tool, you will. I dont know the size you would need for a 650. I think it is a 34mm, but that is just my best guess.

Earl

Yes, I can hear the starter spinnning but nothing else happens. What does this mean?

[Anonymous]

Same Thing Happened to Me - Waiting for Answer

I have a similar problem. I've had recurring starter problems and first posted in August of 2003. I would hear a click sound and nothing would happen. Sometimes, if a smacked the starter engine just right in the bay, it would start and crank the engine.

I finally got my starter rebuilt - it works fine, but now it free-wheels in the bay and won't crank the engine. I've been told this is a starter gear/starter clutch problem, but why would this suddenly happen when I've never had an issue like this before? For the past 7 months, anytime the starter would turn, the engine would start.

Now that I've fixed the starter, the starter motor spins, but the engine won't turn. Could I have screwed up the gears pulling out/replacing the starter?

ANDYS116

[earlfor]

Re: Same Thing Happened to Me - Waiting for Answer

I believe the most common cause of broken off mounting bolts in the starter clutch is a faulty petcock diaphram allowing fuel to seep into the intakes through the petcock vacuum hose. A leak can overfill the crankcase oil level with gas. You try to start the engine and it hydrolocks. The engine stops, but the starter keeps trying to turn it over. Starter torque breaks off the mount bolts on the starter clutch. Anytime, someone has broken starter clutch bolts, the first thing I do is check the petcock for seepage.

I dont think you could have done anything to the starter gears by re-installing the starter.

Earl

Now that I've fixed the starter, the starter motor spins, but the engine won't turn. Could I have screwed up the gears pulling out/replacing the starter?

ANDYS116