Starter Issue? 1st start of the day.

[unicorncomputer]

I am posting this because, the first time I start my bike for the day I keep getting this noise. I am wondering if my starter is getting ready to go or if something else is going on. It will do it repeatedly on cool mornings when the bike is being difficult to start(cool being under 50).

Today was 77 degrees all day, when I just took this at 7:30 it was about 70 degrees still.

Let me know what you think about it.

Video

[bikerphil]

Starter clutch is slipping, sometimes by flushing the oil out with MMO or Seafoam will cure it. To replace it would require splitting the engine cases.

[Ken Talbot]

Yup, what bikerphil said. Tsunami has been doing this for a few years now, early in the season when temperatures are low. With 125,000 kms on the clock, (78,000 miles) that's probably to be expected. So far, it doesn't bother me enough to make me want to tear into it.

YMMV...

[unicorncomputer]

Doesn't sound horrible, but not good either.

What is the process for flushing the oil?

Not to sound stupid, but you are referencing the Main Oil for the engine correct, or is this for the middle oil?

Starter clutch is slipping, sometimes by flushing the oil out with MMO or Seafoam will cure it. To replace it would require splitting the engine cases.

[donebysunday]

Doesn't sound horrible, but not good either.

What is the process for flushing the oil?

Not to sound stupid, but you are referencing the Main Oil for the engine correct, or is this for the middle oil?

You can flush the engine crankcase by just changing the oil. There are many products you can use to flush but I like to use cheap lighter than factory spec. oil. You are just going to dump this flushing oil once done or maybe flush the lawn mower or some other engine/s with it until it's really dark/dirty. Mix the cheap flushing oil with Seafoam or other (half can to full can in the flushing oil) run for at least 10 mi., light on the throttle but get the rpms. up, use your starter a number of times to help clean it.

He's talking Marvel Mystery Oil or Seafoam. Of the two I think I'd go with the Seafoam.

[unicorncomputer]

Thank you, I will pick up some more seafoam, only a little left in the can and I think I have a 5 quart jug of 10-40 oil.

[BA80]

Mine does that sometimes when the oil is cold, it is worse when the temps are like below 40F. I see your running 10w40, that's a little light for these bikes but it may be OK in the cooler climate there but most people run 20w50.

That doesn't matter as much as the API service stamp on the container. It should look like this one, blank on the bottom. If it isn't it will have some friction modifiers in it that will make your transmission clutch slip and possibly could affect starter clutch operation too.

[TopCatGr58]

Hopefully you haven't started doing this yet!? MMO is a very good cleaning oil, and the crankcase can easily hold a few extra ounces BEFORE draining it. SO...why waste a full new 3 quarts of new oil? Just add the 1/2 bottle of MMO to your crankcase, start it, run it GENTLY up to normal operating temps which would be about 10 minutes...DO NOT DRIVE IT, NO LOAD on the engine. The cleaner solution MMO really thins out the oil as it works on removing gum/varnish and such from the internal parts as the oil washes over/thru them. Then turn off and drain the oil and change the filter. IF you're really paranoid, you even tap the starter once the oil has mostly drained just to get the last bit out of the PUMP/sump pickup tube. However, the oil being thinned by the MMO should drain fairly completely from the engine.

Then just fill with the quality oil the Greg showed! You can pull the plug wires so that you can turn the engine over with the starter for 10-15 seconds to get the pump primed again. Would take more strain off of the starter/battery if you pull the spark PLUGS. And use 10 second bursts and then stop/rest so as not to overheat the starter motor.

T.C.

[motoman]

If pulling the plugs, plug wires back on and ground plugs before cranking over if using the start button. With ignition off, using a remote start button to starter relay keeps from having to do that.

[skids]

Hopefully you haven't started doing this yet!? (snip)T.C.

I agree with TC ... why waste good oil? I don't know if it is necessary to pull the plugs while hitting the starter however. I would probably just pull the plug wires or ignition fuse or something.

[unicorncomputer]

Is it normal practice to pull wires and run engine a little after oil change or is it just because of the flushing the oil?

[unicorncomputer]

Is there a huge difference between the Fram oil filter at 5.39 vs the K&N filter at 15.99?

[BA80]

Is there a huge difference between the Fram oil filter at 5.39 vs the K&N filter at 15.99?

I was kinda curious about that myself. The only time I've ever done that is with a freshly assembled engine. Seems a little much for an engine that already has oil in the galleys.

[BA80]

Is there a huge difference between the Fram oil filter at 5.39 vs the K&N filter at 15.99?

About $10. A lot of the people are leery of the Fram filter for some reason but I've never had a problem with them. The K&N is a higher quality filter but in the end all it does is filter the oil. Fram does that just fine.

[GLoweVA]

Is there a huge difference between the Fram oil filter at 5.39 vs the K&N filter at 15.99?

Even if you change the Fram out twice as often as the K&N, you still save about $5.