Starter stopped working?!

[Euroned]

Hi All

 Just had a problem with starting my Wee.
 Completed a 70 odd mile trip and stopped off for a drink, went to start again and my bike would not fire. When I pressed the starter switch, you hear the click then the whirr but no engine turning over, been like that for few days now, can bump start it OK(apart from getting bloody hot!).

 What can this be, where should I try to look for this problem?


 Cheers all


 Neil

[UK_Vstrom650]

Battery?

[Euroned]

Have put the battery on charge.
Can the battery run down and not charge up enough to start after a half decent run? Headlight is still bright and other powered dash etc seem OK, when running or just ignition!?
 Mind you its 5 yrs old now, must be due new battery soon?

 Thanks again

 Neil

[greywolf]

The whir along with good headlights may indicate a starter motor or starter clutch problem. A low battery will cause a click but no whir. See if shorting the two large terminals on the starter relay together cause the same whir. That's a high current though low voltage short so it may spark. Wear eye protection. If shorting the starter relay causes the same whir, either the starter motor isn't spinning fast and strong enough to engage the starter clutch or the clutch isn't working.

[greywolf]

I forgot to mention you can jump the battery from a car battery to ensure the problem is not the bike's battery. Do not have the car engine running though. If the car's regulator is allowing too much voltage, it could damage the bike's electronics. Better safe than sorry.

[Euroned]

I tried shorting over the relay, no change. Then I found the starter motor and gave it a thump with mallet(like I used to do with my car years ago) Hello presto it fired first time.
 So it looks like the starter motor, can I

1) repair it (if so how?)
2) thump it each time (although seems to start every time now!)
3) or do I have to buy a new one?

 Cheers for the info.

 Ta

 Neil

[greywolf]

http://www.stromtrooper.com/v-strom-ser ... art-2.html

[Euroned]

Starter problems again...

 Okies not had a problem for nearly 6mnths now, but of course wouldn't start when far away from home on a very flat area. Eventually got it to bump with lots hard work and a couple of taps on the starter motor.
 So got home from work tonight, took off the starter motor completely cleaned out the carbon dust and put all back together, now I have new problem!!!
 When I press the starter switch, all electrics go off until I let go the clutch or starter switch, WTF have I done??
 Can still bump it, just!!

Help please!?


 Ta
 Neil

[greywolf]

Time for a new battery unless the cables are loose or dirty.

[Euroned]

Was working absolutely fine yesterday morning and previous, and even before I took the starter off tonight, it was clicking when I pressed starter switch not turning off all the electrics, that's only since I have taken off starter motor and cleaned it!

 Neil

[Euroned]

Taken starter motor off again, the spindle does not turn at all by hand, seized solid. Tried taken apart and putting back together, seizes when tightens up. That indicates the starter motor problem I think, and battery dumping alot power to try move it.

 So where do I get a new mitsuba sm-14 starter motor?

Thanks again..

 Neil

[greywolf]

A seized starter motor will act like that. I've never heard of it happening before.

[Euroned]

My fault, I cleaned the carbon brushes but did not put them back in correctly, they were pushed out to much and grabbing at the spindle. Reseated the brushes and now spins and starts up again on starter button.
 So would new starter brushes, sort this intermittent problem out, or should I just carry a 'tapometer' in my topbox, for when it doesn't start?

 Cheers for all the help Greywolf.


 Neil

[greywolf]

If worn brushes are causing lack of contact, replacing them can fix that. The new ones are longer. If the springs are sacked from overheating, you'll need new springs. I believe there is a repair kit available that handles all that but I've never looked for it myself.