starter motor general questions

Okay, so first a little history.

Bought a 83 seca xj 750 two years ago and didnt do much to it. It ran well then stopped. I rode the bike a few times popping the clutch, got a new battery for it too but havent done anything else.

So my first problem lies here. Getting the bike to start from the starter button! Yesterday I took off the starter motor, cleaned it out.

The brush plate and terminal pieces were a black sooty mess. Everything else looked okay but i whipped it all down. There is ample grease and everything rotated fine.

After reinstalling, I proceeded to start her up. woohoo! She cranked, pretty smooth too. I let her run for a few minutes, kill it and started her again, yes! two great starts.

So this morning proud of myself I went for another start, nothing but solenoid click. I took off the starter motor cleaned it again and yes it started, then died and now nothing.

So my question is, do I need a starter rebuild? or is there something I'm missing here?



* a side note. what about a new fuse box. mine is original and the turn signals dont work well when the bike is on. maybe just new fuses but lets get real, just replace the box right? *

Thanks, Michael

 

My bike did the same thing when I bought it. I disassembled the starter, bent the springs to push the brushes a bit harder, and re-assembled.

 

My first thought was brushes, they usually have a wear line on them. If the brushes and springs are good, check the commentator (individual copper bars on armature) for a bad bar (miss-shaped, pitted or burnt) and all electrical connections(battery, solenoid and starter) for looseness or corrosion.

 

a solenoid can click all day long and not make the connection between the battery and starter.
next time it happens cross the 2 big terminals on the solenoid with a screwdriver and see what happens

 

well when i cross it with a screw driver nothing really happens. Even with a fresh charge on the battery.

what do you suggest from there?

 

well you starter could be in need, chacal should have the parts but check the battery ground first.
the starter has one connection,+, the body is bolted to the engine for the -, the battery - is bolted all the way on the back of the engine, if you look past the rear brake switch you'll see some big wires back there. make sure their not loose or rotten

 

This might help you out: http://xjbikes.blogspot.ca/2009/01/how- ... rcuit.html