Why does smacking the starter make it work?

[Courtney]

Found problem and bike now starts like crazy.

Well it's fixed. It WAS the starter after all that. Tightening the loose bolts didn't change a thing, got the click most of the time at the relay. Went to my parts stash I've been collecting off ebay and Andreas over time, and installed my backup starter. Hit the starter button and it cranked over at least 3 times as fast and started right up each time. So far I've tried it hot, cold, etc., and it's started each time right away with really fast crank over and no clicks. YES!

Took the buggered up starter apart and rebuilt it via the excellent tutorial on here, and with my shop manual. The brushes were actually almost new for wear, but the copper contact surface they rub on was a silver color, not copper. I sanded it lightly with 600grit and cleaned between the copper with an old hacksaw blade, relubed it with hitemp grease, and reassembled it. Haven't tried it yet, beccause it's replacement is working so well!

[fredintoon]

- - - Why am I smacking the XS starter, and why is it working?? What is the fix, as I am not into carrying a deadblow hammer with me everywhere.

Hi Courtney,
percussive maintenance works. Until it doesn't. Then you gotta tear the starter down & fix it.
Or, of course, carry the deadblow everywhere. It'd fit in that Winchester Defender scabbard of yours, eh?

[Courtney]

heck Fred, I'd just threaten it with the 12 guage. I asked a police friend of mine about carrying my shotgun to the range, and he said technically it would be legal but depending on who you dealt with it was just be too much of a hassle. So I'll just keep packing the .45acp in a shoulder holster instead.