My 2000 GS500E has a problem that is gradually worsening. First time I start it in the morning there is freqently, tho not always, a loud metallic clang when I hit the starter. Seems to come from LH area of cases, near starter.
Starter often seems to hesitate for fraction of a second when this happens as if battery is low, tho battery is fine. Soon as warm & rest of day all is perfect no matter how many times I start or how long it sits between starts. No everytime I start it but more & more frequent and only first time in morning. Bike runs absolutely great, no signs of any metal in oil (I have a magnetic drainplug.)
Any ideas for what to look at is appreciated.
Thanks, DH
Just sounds like you starter is just having a bad time trying to engage with the starter sprag.
:dunno:
Thanks Cam Guy. So is this serious? Sounds bad & I need to sell the bike cause 3 is just too many for anyone my age. Me I wouldn't buy anything that made noises like this & would want my money back or free fix if I found out after I bought it
Not sure what a "sprang" is but can I get to it & fix the situ w/o too much surgery?
Any idea as to why only happens on first start & not after each day?
Is that enough questions for one post?? If not let me know & I'll ask more! :)
Thanks again to you and all the thousands of others who are about to respond with a quick/cheap/permanent fix,....I hope.
DH
I'm sorry I can't be more definitive without actually being there. It starts. That's a good thing...and, if you can put up with the noise...
When you push the starter button it allows current from the battery to go through the coil in the starter solenoid to connect, blah, blah, blah...I'll get to the point...the starter motor has another solenoid the pushes the starter motor gear to engage with a gear (starter sprag) in the gearbox, so the starter motor can turn over the crank. Maybe this gear comes out of alignment with the other gear and when you hit the start button, it smacks the the gear into the other gear until it lines up the teeth to engage properly. Maybe reseating the starter motor will help this.
I can't help anymore than this, as I haven't even looked at my own starter.
Kerry! Help! Pictures! Srinath, O Worthy Wise One!?!
Thanks 70 Cam Guy. OK I can grasp the theoretical karma of that. & I can imagine that noise being a metal part (gear on starter) being out of position but being pushed by the force of the starter to suddenly snap into position and therein the Big Bang theory would fall into place. :?
Perhaps this might be a visible situation. There is, I just remember a slight buzzing at RPMs(I can't quite remember at this sec) when running & I have been meaning to look see what might be loose or touching something. Perhaps there is a connection here.
Tomorrow might be major inspection day. :o
Hoping someone out there had exact problem & has the answer.
Halloa, are you out there?????
DH
Thanks again, you at least gave me a spot to start at.
:thumb:
scratch is too modest (or too secure) to point out that his GStwin.com handle is scratch and not 70 Cam Guy. Anyway, he asked for it by confusing folks with his signature block. :lol:
I'm like you scratch - I haven't ever looked at my starter either. Therefore, no pictures. Are the BikeBandit diagrams of any help?
Its a starter clutch... sorta like the free wheel in a bicycle... something is worn making it skip a tooth. Mine does the same to... but mine has 44444 miles... I swear it turned that today... ok will turn it on the way back home today. 44K and counting...
Cool.
Srinath.
Thanks, Kerry! Yah, too modest... :) I didn't want suzukizone to feel bad.
But, it is a quote.
Srinath - Wow! And, how neat! 44,444mi.
So maybe the springs in the starter clutch are worn.
Heh: Re. your sig, Scratch: Wonder what 70 Cam Guy would say about me. My GS is purple, the trim is pink and, hold it, guys, the saddle is pink as well.
Wasn't my decision, but I sure as hell won't bother to change it.
OK am I the highest here...
On the mailing list a few years back... 98-99 I wasn't, I ony had 24 or so then, There was Antonio (he's popped in here a few times as well) with 90K, some others with 45K and some more people right around my mileage... I'll start another thread, just to see...
Cool.
Srinath.
OK, suzukizone is slightly, tho not permanently embarrassed.
Sorry Scratch, you are not Cam Guy 70, & sorry Cam Gut 70, yo are not Scratch.
Will try to figure out if the spring is sprang & if I can fix the thang.
If I actually learn from this will advise with follow up post.
Bike only has 12,700 miles so seems that is early for spring(s) to give up ghost, hopefully something just loose & easy to find & tighten???? Dare I dream?
Thanks all.
BTW if anyone is near central Maryland & wants to come over & diagnose & fix it for free,....well I'm open for that.
:roll:
Thanks again,
DH
I had to replace my starter at 16K miles. I rarely had loud noises at start up. A couple of back fires while in the break in period but pretty quite after that. I don't think reseating the starter will do anything. It is a pain to get to because you have to remove the carbs. After that it is easy to inspect. The thing is the starter is bolted in and can not be moved to make adjustments. It might be worth it to pull it and inspect its teeth to make sure they are not worn.
I never had to do any clutch work so I cannot comment on how hard it will be but I believe Bob B. has offered advice and instructions in the past. Might be worth a search.
Thanks JohNLA (if that's who you are! :) Don't want to mix up any more identities.
Well just hoping the buzzing & the banging are related & that it means only a few bolts are loose & easy to fix. Just have to mark off some time to check, got caught up in a few gotta-do tasks first.
Thanks,
DH
You could just remove the bolts securing the starter cover to see if the starter has come loose but again you will not be able to pull it out without removing the carbs.
Yeah, I was hoping that if it's loose, step 1 would be to confirm it. Then the solution would be apparent. Only fear is not finding a good clue & having to tear stuff apart hoping to get lucky. Got a GS 850 tying up the lift so work on gravel driveway is less conducive. Would leave me w/o a runner too. Although the 17 year cicadas are about to break loose here in MD and much as I love the wee little critters they do make biking a mess for the 4-5 weeks they are out orgying their little butts off.
DH