Sluggish starter when it's hot

[LoHo]

Hey Gruppe...has anyone else experienced a sluggish starter when the bike is fully warmed up? Especially after a long, steady ride? Several times I've stalled it out, usually in a precarious locale (sharply uphill lefthander onto a busy two lane comes to mind), and when I hit the the starter, I get: crank.......crank....crank........crank....crank crank WHOOM!
Is this a common problem, and can I solve it? Is it heat-related resistance in the starter circuit? I'm anxious that the WHOOM! always prevent a WHACK! TIA
~LoHo~

[sixtysix]

Not on my XS, but on my 83 Venture Royale, I had the same problem. I took the starter apart and cleaned the commutator (I use the very fine scotch brite (gray colored)) and lubed the bushings/bearing (don't remember which it had) check the brushes (were OK) and cleaned and checked all electrical connections and made sure the grounding point was clean. It worked fine after that.

[tsears]

poor starting when hot

I had this problem, but the bike would not actually start when hot. It would turn over slowly. The problem was the stator, which had been banged in a close call on the freeway. I think it was not charging very well when running.

[norm_is_here]

Hello LoHo,

I had the exact same problem. This could be a multiple issue problem.

Check the battery first. If it is weak or over two years old, replace it. Wally World has your battery for about $45.00. (I had a weak battery.)

Second, check and replace the brushes on the starter. They are probably worn beyond minimum limit. This is a very easy job to do. Take the starter apart and check. Once you install the new brushes, install clean all the parts in the starter. This is a must. There is probably build up of dust in the starter itself. (I had a bad pair of brushes also.)

Third, check the brushes in the generator. This is very easy. (My brushes were near the minimum limit. I just replaced early to eliminate future problems.)

I recommend, buy all the brushes first. They are pretty cheap, about $25 both the starter brushes pair and generator brushes pair. Once you get everything apart it is just as easy to replace everything.

[buffalo]

Or you can do like I did on my '78E.... Get a kick start lever off an xs650, a few minor touches with a grinder to clear engine cases, a minor tweak on the rear brake lever and it looks like it is supposed to be there... and when it is hot, one or two kicks and Vrrooommm! Who needs that silly starter moter anyway, just extra weight to haul around
If yours is a '80 or later, too bad, have ta fix the starter.

[Tim Johnson]

I have had this problem on other bikes, and cars also, is usually a combo of a weak starter and weak batery