starter button

Romer · Posted: November 24, 2008, 8:07 pm Post subject: starter button

I am bobbing a '72 XS2 650. It was not running when I bought it. I am new to yamaha motorcycles (this old anyway) so when I did not see a starter button I assumed it was kicker only from the factory. After getting my Clymer manual I discovered it did come with a starter. (don't laugh) Found the starter solinoid and relay. Put power to it and nothing. Does anyone have a '72 with a starter button picture I can see?

5twins · Full Member Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 1616

A valuable resource for these old bikes is the Yamaha USA website .....

www.yamaha-motor.com/s.../home.aspx

Navigate to the parts section, find your year and model, and you can pull up exploded parts diagrams like the one below. In the upper highlighted box labeled XS2, you'll see the small lever (part #47) that hangs down under the twist grip. Besides activating a decompressor cable running down to the left exhaust valve, there was a switch in there that engaged the starter motor as well. There was no "button" like on newer models.

sirmacd · Posted: November 27, 2008, 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: starter button

Hey Romer, Don't feel bad I thought my '73 was kick only until I grabbed the lever by accident that 5twins pointed out. Good luck on the rebuild.

xsleo · Posted: November 28, 2008, 12:45 am Post subject: Re: starter button

if you don't have the stock decompression lever, it wouldn't be hard to wire in a momentary switch for a start switch. they sell switches like this in the catalogs that mount on the handlebars. probably on ebay also.

Romer · Posted: December 6, 2008, 10:35 pm Post subject: Re: starter button

Just got back to the forum on the starter...Thanks 5twins. It makes sense now. I took the starter off and it will not turn by hand (or pliers). Is this normal?

Retiredgentleman · Posted: December 6, 2008, 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: starter button

If you have the starter motor out, the motor shaft should turn freely by hand. 2 long screws hold the starter end bells to the casing. The 2 screws are difficult to remove. Use a hand impact screwdriver to remove them and be sure the screwdriver fits fully into the screw head. Water may have got into the motor and seized it. When its open you can check the brushes for wear.

pumps · Posted: December 7, 2008, 1:30 am Post subject: Re: starter button

Sometimes you'll see the stock decompression lever set up for sale on ebay. Guys will remove them when chopping a bike.

Romer · Posted: December 20, 2008, 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: starter button

I just got the starter off. I took it apart, cleaned it, and put it back together. I had to leave the long case bolt a little loose for it to spin. I gave it a 12volt jump and it spun! Now when I tighten the bolts all the way it will not spin. I assume there is a way to shim it so I can tighten it. Or do I leave the bolts loose and put "lock tight" on them?

Retiredgentleman · Posted: December 20, 2008, 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: starter button

Romer;
On each end of the black metal casing, there is a rubber O-ring, except it is square. Its about .100" wide. Does your motor have 2 of these? If they were missing, then the screws would tighten up on the 2 ends until they were binding on the rotor.

Romer · Posted: December 20, 2008, 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: starter button

Yes sir, they were in place and in good shape. I had 2 washer/shims on each end of the shaft. I wondered if adding more of these would increase the clearance of the bells thus solve the binding. But where would I find them?

Retiredgentleman · Posted: December 21, 2008, 1:29 am Post subject: Re: starter button

The only way to get more clearance would be to remove one of the washers. My 78SE starter motor has only 1 washer on the commutator end, with 2 washers on the drive end. You could try removing 1 washer from the commutator end, and see if that gives the required axial clearance.

Romer · Posted: December 21, 2008, 11:18 am Post subject: Re: starter button

Now that I think about it adding washers would cause more binding. One of the washers was rusty. I'll try that next. Thanks, I'll let you know how it works.

Romer · Posted: December 27, 2008, 11:40 am Post subject: Re: starter button

Took a washer out cleaned more rust and now it spins great! Thanks for the help. 30 years sitting up and now it spins...:)

xsleo · Posted: December 27, 2008, 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: starter button

a little tlc works wonders. lots of elbow grease comes in handy.

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