starter question??????????????

my starter on my xj700 is not working right. it just clicks. i can take something and tap on the end of it and it starts right up. any idea what the problem might be? i am thinking about rebuilding it but im not sure what i need or how difficult it is to do. any help will be appreciated!!!!

 

sounds like a good clean should do it, not too onerous.

 

Wacking the starter with a hammer is what we used to do to my Chevy.
It usually meant the soleniod was going bad and didn't have the power to through the starter out to the fly wheel.
Cleanings a good idea.

 

Hello Steve,

I had the same problem. The starter solenoid was clicking, but operating the starter motor. My solution is more complicated, but it worked well.

Disconnect the earth lead on the battery. Take the starter motor off - 10mm bolts. A socket set works well here. Note how the housing lines up. Usually the sticker on the starter motor is on top. Undo the 2 long Phillips head screws, each side of the starter motor, and take the back piece of the housing off. The brushes plate is attached to the Backing piece by cable. Be careful to note how the brushes plate is positioned in the housing. There is usually some notches, which it lines up with.

There is a bolt through the back piece, which holds the main power cable on. The bolt is attached with a cable to the brushes plate. Check this is clean. I found that most of the grease from the rear bearing had leached onto the plate with the brushes, which can't have helped getting the power through. Clean the brushes plate and brushes of grease. Check the 2 brushes move freely on their springs. Clean the the gaps in the copper commutator. This is the copper on the main shaft of the starter motor, that the brushes rub against. The gaps can get filled with carbon from the starter brushes. This will prevent the brushes from contacting the commutator. Use only degreaser, not sand paper, if it is greasy. The commutator is coated with a varnish, and is lubricated by the carbon in the brushes, which will be damaged with sand paper.

Reassemble the starter motor. Check the brushes plate is correctly lined up with the notches in the housing. Took me a few tries to get it to line up properly. The housing should then go on the starter motor body easily. You may have to hold the other end, with the gear on it, as there is nothing to hold on until the 2 main bolts are screwed back on. There is a rubber O ring on the back housing.

On my bike, I put the starter back on, Don't forget to put the longer 10mm bolt on the left hole of the starter motor. Can't get in with the air box in the way. It turns the engine over every time now, and much quicker. Must have been losing alot of power with all the grease on the brushes. Good luck.

 

I was having to whack my starter as well. I cleaned it, put new brushes in and it would still do the same thing. It then got worse a ferw weeks later, I couldn't even whack it to go. I actually found that I had to get a co-worker to rebuild it I had some grounding happening intrernally.

It wouldn't hurt to get it cleaned and if you have someone that can test it for you for any grounding issues internally.

 

thanks for the info!!! i will do all that has been suggested, i also got a used one off ebay. i am supposed to ride in a poker run this weekend so i need it to be running!!! hopefully your suggestions will work. thanks!!!!

 

I recently went on a three day, 500mi trip. Without a working starter from day one. Just remember to park in a place that makes it easy to push start her.