Starter Motor

So I think I want to check the brushes in my starter motor..
I started taking out some bolts when I realised I need to take out my clutch lever too? and looked on the other side to find a next to impossible screw to take out..

This is a Maxim XJ550 1981 model..

Should I try bump starting it?

 

There should be two bolts holding the starter motor in located at the end of the motor or the section to the outside of the bike. Only other thing that would hold on is the terminal wire. Sounds like you have started taking apart something else.

 

The terminal wire looks like the back of a spark plug right?
Then why is it so complicated for me to take a look inside my starter?????

 

Here's a thread that has some good pictures and diagrams for a XJ700

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=5357.html

Your XJ550 should be similar.

 

Thanks Nick
I was looking at the images and that is the starter I was trying to take out..

I stopped because it was held in with a my clutch lever plate and the other side of my gears etc...

Was afraid of having oil leak out all over the place.. Thought it wasn't worth the mess to just take a look at the starter till I'm atleast 100 % sure this is what I have to do..
I'll try to get some pictures up soon!

 

I had a look at the Yamaha parts diagram last night. It seems that the 550 starter is a bit different than the starters on the shafties. Drawing showed nothing that looked like mounting holes.

Any of you 550 owners able to help the OP out?

 

If you trying to take out the starter (maybe your doing something else and I am unsure what it is), mine is only held in there by 3 screws, and the ground wire...

 

two of those screws are 10 mm bolts and 1 is an allen head screw?

I'll get a pic sometime soon..

 

Its not that hard. Actually its much easier than pulling the carb off the bike.

Use a 10mm wrench to loose the bolt on the shifter (it will not come out unless u remove the bolt).

Use a 5mm hex, loose the plate (nothing will leak out and u won't ruin any gasket, all the plate does is keep the lace of ur shoe away from the spinning gear sprocket)

Loose the left foot leg so u can slide the plate off easy.

Then loose the 10mm bolt on the starter and a nut holding the cable on the top.

Slide the starter out.

The installation is the reversal.

(Yes, this is a copy of another response I post to the same topic earlier.)

 

Cisco, I took a deep breath and did it your way..
Why didn't anyone else explain it as well as you did? Who knows..
Found an interesting congregation of nuts behind that lil panel.. held together with grease.. right beneath the chain..

Anyways the problem wasn't the starter! The brushes are in decent condition.. It was a bit dirty but after I reassembled it, it still didn't run.. I decided I'd go back to my spark plugs.. I've got no spark!
I don't know how I overlooked that! (maybe cause I replaced for new plugs, thought they were sparking)

Hot Action

PS I tried posting pics.. but they aren't 500 by 500 pixels so I can't..
I'll try to resize them and post later..

 

There are two ways you could check for sparks. One would be with the plug out of the engine but still connected to the cap/wire. Usually the number one (the one on left side) is used.

Locate the plug near a fin on the cylinder head and press the starter, as the motor spins, you should see some spark arc going on between the plug and fin.

Or, if you're brave and don't mind being shocked a bit, leave the plug in the motor and take the cap off the plug. Unscrew the cap off the wire (counterclockwise), you should have a blunt end of wire now. You could do the same thing, put it close to the fin or press your thumb on it.

As you press the starter, you WILL be shocked. It's the fastest way to know that the bike has a spark or not.

(Disclaimer: Not responsible for anything that happens to anybody when shocked, heart attack, the shock itself causes the person to lose the balance and fall back on a sharp object, or bang head on the handlebar, etc. etc....)

 

Oh, to post pixes on forum, there are several ways of doing it but I like this the best.

Go to www.photobucket.com and open an account (basic package should be free). Once you have your account, upload pictures you have.

Now, open a new window and go to this forum and start a new reply box.

Go back to the photobucket account you still have on the other window and copy the link (should be on the third box under the picture you want to post). Return to the forum and paste the link to the picture.

All done...

Keep in mind that you, as a member of this forum, have limited size you can upload over time but it would take many, if not 100, pictures to max that limit. You can check your usage in your account page.

 

I've checked the spark..
Thought I didn't have one.. but I did? I mean i did it in daylight the first time and I guess i wasn't lookingp properly...
Saw it when I tried later in the eve...
But the bike still won't start..
Could it be the timing?
I know I've got fuel delivery..

Thanks for the photobucket tip! I'll create an account asap.

 

SOLVED

So I bump started the bike took it around the block for about 15 minutes..
let it idle for about 3 afterwards and shut it off...
waited about 20 minutes
tried the starter
it works...

Any ideas as to why?

I've since ridden it twice without a problem tonight...

Hot Action

 

Just needed that extra bump to get everything loosened up...

(don't know, just be happy and ride! lol)