Bike won't turn over

dshook · Posted: July 15, 2007, 11:23 pm Post subject: Bike won't turn over

Hi

I am new to this whole motorcycle thing so thanks in advance for the help! I just got a 82 650 and I know it was on the road and tuned up less than a year ago so I am hoping to get it back to that state without too much major work. Currently, all the lights work, the battery is new and well charged, the fuses under the seat all look good, but when the starter button is pushed, the solenoid clicks, but the starter just lets out a quiet whine/gurgle, kind of like an old dial-up modem trying to connect. I tried tapping it with a hammer in case something was a bit seized but that just produced more whine/gurgle. What should I check or try next?

Retiredgentleman · Posted: July 16, 2007, 12:14 am Post subject: Re: Bike won't turn over

Check the electrical path to the starter motor.
3 cables to check:
Battery + to the solnoid
Solnoid to the starter motor
Battery - to the frame ground

Is the cable in good condition?
Is the connector at each end free of corrosion and clean?
Is the metal at the frame ground corrosion free and clean?

If these are all OK then maybe time to consider the starter motor itself is defective.

INXS650 · 650Rider Supporter Joined: Mar 22, 2007 Posts: 645

Sounds like the starter is not engaging. It is time for a rebuild. The bendix is not kicking out, and the motor is just "free wheeling".

dshook · Posted: July 16, 2007, 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: Bike won't turn over

Thanks again guys, what a great forum. I played with it a little this morning and thought I woudl describe the problem in greater detail. I read a lot of stuff about gear #4 etc etc online, but it doesn't seem to be the problem, as the motor itself doesnt seem to be spinning. When I try it for the first time, it makes that sporadic, gurgling sort of noise, almost as if there is liquid in there or something. The following attempts just yeild a click from the solenoid and nothing at all from the starter. If I tap the starter I can get it to gurgle again, but generally, the solenoid just clicks and nothing else happens. The battery is very well charged and the cables all look good, the tail light lights up nice and bright without complaint.

Any other ideas? I understand I need specialised clutch tools etc etc to take the starter out to work on it?

INXS650 · 650Rider Supporter Joined: Mar 22, 2007 Posts: 645

See my above post. Happens to car starters all the time. The gurgleing is the starter motor spinning, but not engaging. Shouldn't need any special tools to get the starter out, but it's a pain in the rectum. Does the kick start work?

dshook · Posted: July 18, 2007, 3:08 am Post subject: Re: Bike won't turn over

Right, that makes a lot of sense. The kick lever itself is broken but I have a lead on a replacement already, I think I might just leave the starter cooked and just get used to kicking the bike over. How hard is it to kickstart these 650s, and should I bother going in there to take out the bad starter?

INXS650 · 650Rider Supporter Joined: Mar 22, 2007 Posts: 645

Not too hard to kick. Depends on the bike I guess. In the morning, mine takes 1 kick to start, in the afternoons, maybe 1-5. After I run it, 1 kick immediatly to restart.

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