Starter noise, not turning over

spray____ · November 07, 2013, 01:04:03 PM

Hey guys, hoping to get some insight into a problem I've been having.

Recently my GS500 has had some problems starting. I would say it happens 3/4 times I press the starter button. When I press it, I hear the noise of the starter motor wind up and spin, but it's not actually catching the engine and turning it over. If I let it go and keep trying again it will eventually catch and turn over and the motor fires in the first few cycles.

The battery I was using was nearly dead, and so I figured it didn't have the strength to turn over the engine. Last week I replaced it with a brand new fully charged battery, and this problem persists. It's not stopping me from riding, but it's annoying to know something isn't working as it should. I'm also considering putting my bike up for sale, and I know this will look bad to anyone who comes to see it.

Any ideas as to what's going on? I was going to start by replacing the starter motor, but I'd like to get an idea of if that's the problem before I go randomly buying and replacing parts.

I can record a video of the noise if that helps.

Thanks!

spray____ · November 07, 2013, 01:09:38 PM

I should also mention, a few times with the old, near dead battery I would go to start it and it wouldn't have enough juice to turn the motor over. A few times right as it was dying it would let out a fairly loud "clang" that made me shiver.

Maybe the starter clutch is the problem?

spray____ · November 07, 2013, 02:40:44 PM

Actually, this sounds like what I'm experiencing, will have to watch the video tonight:

Thanks for the amazing videos AdidasGuy!

spray____ · November 07, 2013, 02:41:34 PM

Duplicate

Coseverde · February 03, 2015, 11:59:34 PM

So, it appears that the starter does not function like my car starter, with a solenoid - driven gear that extends to engage then retract? I'm having a similar problem, so will attempt tightening that bolt.

I don't understand why the oil has to be drained first though.

J_Walker · February 04, 2015, 02:12:11 AM

Quote from: Coseverde on February 03, 2015, 11:59:34 PM

I don't understand why the oil has to be drained first though.

Take off the cover without draining the oil.

you'll see...

Coseverde · February 04, 2015, 06:54:10 AM

When reading the Haynes manual, it says nothing about draining the oil.
What will I see, J_Walker?

Malfruen · February 04, 2015, 07:56:59 AM

I haven't had to do this myself, but I'm going to assume that you will see a torrent of oil coming from the cover you have to remove. I guess the only reason to drain it is so you don't have to mop it up instead.

Coseverde · February 04, 2015, 08:19:03 AM

I'm guessing that will be the result. What I'm wondering is, why? That is, is the chamber behind that cover supplied with oil and for what purpose? I'm a noob at this level of mechanical understanding regarding how my bike functions.

J_Walker · February 04, 2015, 02:01:19 PM

Quote from: Coseverde on February 04, 2015, 08:19:03 AM
I'm guessing that will be the result. What I'm wondering is, why? That is, is the chamber behind that cover supplied with oil and for what purpose? I'm a noob at this level of mechanical understanding regarding how my bike functions.

there's little oil passage ways throughout the bike. its as simple as that. lol it just sits in there. if your oils fresh, you can drain it and put it back in.

Janx101 · February 05, 2015, 03:07:28 AM

And if it's not fresh then perfect time to pop a new filter and oil in also! .. only extra 10 mins on the task!

gsJack · February 05, 2015, 08:38:22 PM

The starter motor drives the crankshaft thru a sprag clutch attached to the back of the alternator rotor. When the starter motor stops and the engine runs on the inner member of the sprag clutch stops with the starter motor and just sits on a crankshaft journal while the crank spins inside it at speeds up to 11k rpm. Considerable oil is fed thru the crankshaft into the sprag clutch to lubricate the clutch parts. The oil pumped into the left cover thru the starter clutch flows back to the engine sump thru the passageways mentioned above. That is why there is oil in there.

Coseverde · February 05, 2015, 08:55:41 PM

Perfect, thanks!

Coseverde · February 22, 2015, 10:45:34 PM

A few issues:

#1 - So I am repairing my starter and I noticed that the "orange thing" isn't flush with the edge of the "big round thing" (don't know what it's called, but it obviously doesn't look right).

Should I be worried? Does this need to be addressed, or can I ignore it and move on?

#2 - How can I get this "big round thing" off?

The video posted by adidasguy suggested I get a M19x1.0 bolt and a 36mm spacer, and use the bolt and spacer to force it off the taper. 8 calls later and I can't find that bolt. Are there any other reasonable options?

#3 - The three bolts that fasten through the back of the "big round thing" (yeah go ahead and laugh, I still don't know what it's called) have backed out.

Once I get the "big round thing" off, can I use some locktite to hold those bolts in place so this doesn't happen again?

gsJack · February 23, 2015, 05:42:38 AM

That's the generator rotor some refer to as the flywheel. I spent a whole afternoon looking for that bolt and finally found one. One member suggested a Honda oil drain plug works if you can't find the bolt:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=67148.msg809741#msg809741

I replaced those bolts because they are all chewed up after running loose. Use threadlock and torque the 3 bolts to 15 ft/lbs so they don't come loose again. I lapped the rotor fit to the crankshaft and put some threadlock on it too, it's all in that thread I linked above.

News:

Starter noise, not turning over