another starter issue

[brytatz]

hi, I am a new member and hope some one can help me. I have an xs1100 and have had it for 14 months and it has never started properly, in the past it has been very sluggish but eventually started. The last few weeks have been a nightmare, I have tried a few things like stripping the starter motor and taking the plugs out and by-passing the wiring straight to the starter and it still won't start, still seems sluggish. Has anyone got any ideas?

[mro]

First would check battery
(local auto store should test for free if you have not a good battery tester)

Then check/clean wireing and grounds.
When you had the starter apart was the commutator "burned"
and what condition were the brushes. Brushes to short to make good contact and/or burned commutator will cause problems.

Only other thing I can think of is to check that there's no or very little play between armature and bearings/bushings. If you can detect play there by wiggling the shaft back and forth that will also cause problems.

If starter motor gets hot after cranking for 5 seconds or so can be one of above causes or armature windings going bad.

Last resort, post in the wanted section for a starter.
Should not cost too much and cheeper than having one rebuilt.
good luck


mro

[mro]

Just noticed your across the pond.
Have you checked out the UK XS site?

You might join em,
think they can use any help they can get


mro

[AlanB]

Hi Mro,

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

If it is us who need the help, then why is my inbox is full of tech enquiries about carbs?

AlanB (Scotland!)

[mro]

News Flash...UK site inBox full

originally posted by AlanB (Scotland !)
If it is us who need the help, then why is my inbox is full of tech enquiries about carbs?

Why indeed ?
Can't handle the inquiries?
Maybe a little carb challenged?
Besides I'm an Irish/Catholic/Portagee/Swedish/Eskimo


mro
BTW
For those who had to go to public school,
in plain ole English >>>a $martA$$

[egsols]

You've taken the plugs out and it still won't start? Do I take it that the starter is not turning the motor over quickly enough?

[brytatz]

thanx mro for the reply, i have a spare starter motor and the are both sluggish and yes it seems that the motor is not turning quick enough. I taken the plugs out to see if the crank turned freely, it does except for when the cams are working the valves

[brytatz]

sorry egsols the last post was for you too, the motor doesn't seem to be turning quick enough but seems that the starter clutch is sometimes (skipping) not catching properly and then trying again. Any ideas?

[mro]

Have you eliminated the easy to check posible problems:
battery?
engine main ground?
Where starter bolts up, is it clean?
Does starter motor or relay heat up quickly?
Have you tried jump starting? If so what results?

____
From what little I've seen of the starter clutch, would appear very unlikely for it cause "drag" when it's engaged, and if slipping should notice starter motor spinning good but engine not.
____
Battery can have a "surface charge" and seem good but not have the cranking amps needed to spin motor, and if voltage drops below 10.5? volts---TCI will not function.


mro

hey AlanB, what's your take on the starting problem?
Am I missing something?

[AlanB]

Hi Brytatz,

Sounds like your battery is "tired".

What oil do you have in it?..... Synthetic made my starter clutch slip.

AlanB

[egsols]

Hey Brytatz,

What Alan said, could have a lot to do with battery since it effects both starters. If you can crank it by hand I doubt the internals are slowing down the starter.

BTW had the odd slippage on both my XS's

[brytatz]

i have had the wiring checked out and all seems fine, just changed battery to a dry cell with higher cold start amps and still won't start. I have semi synthetic in it 10/40