Triumphrat

08-31-2005

Has anyone had problems with their starter, mine has refused to start, checked the voltage and its a good 12.5V. When cranking it seems like there is a short on the windings as it sometimes turns over then gives up, tried shorting the solenoid out, lots of sparks but no go and the battery still shows 12.5v after. Any suggestions? I tried kicking it! Had to bump start it after filling it which suggests its the starter as I had just done 20 miles, and with the temperature at 31.5C I was pealing my leathers off when I arrived home. 2002 Bonneville.
:hammer:

Sooty · 08-31-2005

There are several possibilities.
1) The battery at rest my have 12 volts but not supply any current, This is best checked by using jump leads from a good battery next time it fails to start.
2) The cables may be corroded or loose where they connect to the battery, solenoids or earth. Clean all the connections and after tightening smear battery terminal grease on the joints.
An indication of the above two possibilities is solenoid rattle. It will engage at first but when the starter draws current it drops out. Once the circuit is broken there is sufficient current to re-engage the solenoid etc
3) The solenoid itself may be faulty, When bypassing the solenoid terminals to test take care because a good battery charge can cause the shunt to get very hot.

I dont know if there are any brushes in the starter but if not the starter is unlikely to give intermittent problems with an internal short.

Pete_Twizz · 09-01-2005

The starter is a DC motor and therefore has brushes.

Things to check:

1) connect meter to battery, see if volts drop (below 11V) when you push the button.

2) connect meter to solenoid output (cable to starter) and earth. test as above.

3) connct meter to starter input (cable from solenoid) and earth. test as above.

If you have power right up to the starter, most likely problem is a sticky brush in the starter itself. Depending on your abilty and confidence, either take the starter to someone capable or pull the end cover and clean/lubricate/free up the brushes.

Good luck,

Pete.

09-01-2005

Thanks that confirms my thoughts after I had a chance to cool down after the third beer. At three years old the battery must be the first suspect, strange how you can look at other people’s problems and give advice, when it happens to you, all rational goes out the window! Looks like my weekend will be spent swapping batteries out, I'll try one of my good batteries, got to be cheaper than getting a starter and finding it’s not that!! I get the invincible feeling because I have a battery tender but even with one three years is still about the life of a battery, even Yuasa don’t build them that well, I remember the factory visit, one of the managers said the OEM versions were not as good quality as the over the counter version.
Brushes I can cope with, cetting them out is another story.
Phil

[ This message was edited by: philthunder on 2005-09-01 05:51 ]

ssjones · 09-01-2005

I had intermittent starting problems last year, on an 02 America. Sometimes it would spin the starter, at other times it would not. Didn't seem to be a problem. Battery showed correct voltage running and off. A local shop said it was my starter soleniod, located under the black cover. They ordered a solenoid but was sent a starter relay instead. The relay was $11 so I bought it anyway. On the way out, the mechanic asked if my solenoid arrived, told him the relay story. He said "dont' waste your money, definitely not the relay". I left and a few days later decided, what the heck, and installed the relay. I've not had a problem since. And that shop has yet to call and tell me my solenoid is in.... If you are fixing yourself, might want to gamble on the inexpensive relay.

I did have a loose battery cable this summer that caused flickering lights. Barely loose, but enough to create a problem. Tightened the cable and no problem since. I'm still on my OEM battery with 11,000 miles on my '02.null

thruxtonerich · 09-01-2005

Hi

Had some problems with my thruxton starting. Was the starter relay. Look for my post some month ago.
Thruxtonerich