starter motor

[docc]

I've got to take my starter off to try and get the neutral switch to work again.

 

Can the starter and solenoid be cleaned with contact cleaner or is that a bad idea for the magnets I've heard are glued on?

 

Should I leave it alone (54,000 miles) or is time for some preventive maintenence?

[richard100t]

I've got to take my starter off to try and get the neutral switch to work again.

 

Can the starter and solenoid be cleaned with contact cleaner or is that a bad idea for the magnets I've heard are glued on?

 

Should I leave it alone (54,000 miles) or is time for some preventive maintenence?

I have taken my starter off & sprayed wd40 in on the gear & deeper inside. At one time it started making funny noises when I would start the bike. Ever since I lubed it, the thing hasnt made a peep.

[docc]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. How difficult is it to remove a starter? If you need something to do, come visit me. I've got three dirty bikes and a car that needs washin'.

 

Yeah, that part worries me; and has bit me more than once. I just thought a little clean and lube might be good medicine . . .

[Guest ratchethack]

I have taken my starter off & sprayed wd40 in on the gear & deeper inside. At one time it started making funny noises when I would start the bike. Ever since I lubed it, the thing hasnt made a peep.

Richard, careful about using WD-40 as a "lubricant". I'll spare you my well-used, full rant mode on WD-40, and give you the Reader's Digest version. You're welcome.

 

In a nutshell, the stuff is primarily a CLEANING SOLVENT, NOT A LUBRICANT -- even though it does have trace amounts of very light oils and penetrants, which may be just the right thing -- for very very LIGHT OIL applications, or for very very temporary relief of squeaks or other noises in other applications, in which it is COMPLETELY USELESS as a lubricant, and in fact, where it can -- and does -- do much more harm than good.

 

IMHO, the big danger of using this stuff for most people is to fall under the purely sales driven (and purely fallacious) seductive spell and popular delusion that seems to convince most consumers that it's a magic "cure all" for ANYTHING, including most things that actually need proper disassembly, cleaning, and lubrication with an appropriate oil or grease. Though it's fine when used as a cleaner and solvent in the right application -- No, it DOES NOT magically remove all requirements for proper maintenance with a few shots of the spray button!

 

Since WD-40 is primarily composed of a cleaning solvent (very much like Stoddard solvent) that's very close to a dry cleaning agent, with a propellant behind it (as discussed at length in previous posts), it can (and does) actually do a lot more harm than good in many applications by washing the remaining lubricant that's in there OUT, not to mention the risk in many cases of washing surrounding grit and contaminants INTO an otherwise clean, but needy bearing or joint that's crying for more of the lube it was designed for. . .and for which WD-40 may actually be considered a highly obnoxious, dangerous, and highly effective insurgent enemy combatant. . .

 

The "bendix" that engages the starter motor with the flywheel teeth doesn't normally require lubricant, and if I have this correct -- and I b'lieve I do -- the bushings in there are self-lubing, "life of the unit" bushings. If I had to take a stab at an analysis of why your starter motor stopped complaining after you hit it with the usual shots of WD-40, it would be that you likely washed out some road grit, allowing proper operation to resume.

 

IMHO wot you accomplished with your bendix was a good call and a good application of WD-40, Richard. But I reckon the chances that you provided an effective, lasting "lube" in there are quite a bit less than slim to ZIP.

 

-- Cdr. Hatchracket, Curmudgeon, Snake Oil Buster.

[richard100t]

Richard, careful about using WD-40 as a "lubricant". I'll spare you my well-used, full rant mode on WD-40, and give you the Reader's Digest version. You're welcome.

 

In a nutshell, the stuff is primarily a CLEANING SOLVENT, NOT A LUBRICANT -- even though it does have trace amounts of very light oils and penetrants, which may be just the right thing -- for very very LIGHT OIL applications, or for very very temporary relief of squeaks or other noises in other applications, in which it is COMPLETELY USELESS as a lubricant, and in fact, where it can -- and does -- do much more harm than good. <_>

 

IMHO, the big danger of using this stuff for most people is to fall under the purely sales driven (and purely fallacious) seductive spell and popular delusion that seems to convince most consumers that it's a magic "cure all" for ANYTHING, including most things that actually need proper disassembly, cleaning, and lubrication with an appropriate oil or grease. Though it's fine when used as a cleaner and solvent in the right application -- No, it DOES NOT magically remove all requirements for proper maintenance with a few shots of the spray button!

 

Since WD-40 is primarily composed of a cleaning solvent (very much like Stoddard solvent) that's very close to a dry cleaning agent, with a propellant behind it (as discussed at length in previous posts), it can (and does) actually do a lot more harm than good in many applications by washing the remaining lubricant that's in there OUT, not to mention the risk in many cases of washing surrounding grit and contaminants INTO an otherwise clean, but needy bearing or joint that's crying for more of the lube it was designed for. . .and for which WD-40 may actually be considered a highly obnoxious, dangerous, and highly effective insurgent enemy combatant. . .

 

The "bendix" that engages the starter motor with the flywheel teeth doesn't normally require lubricant, and if I have this correct -- and I b'lieve I do -- the bushings in there are self-lubing, "life of the unit" bushings. If I had to take a stab at an analysis of why your starter motor stopped complaining after you hit it with the usual shots of WD-40, it would be that you likely washed out some road grit, allowing proper operation to resume.

 

IMHO wot you accomplished with your bendix was a good call and a good application of WD-40, Richard. But I reckon the chances that you provided an effective, lasting "lube" in there are quite a bit less than slim to ZIP.

 

-- Cdr. Hatchracket, Curmudgeon, Snake Oil Buster.

If were to have used the word "cleaned" instead of the word lubed in my post it may indeed have better described what I did to the starter. WD40 to me does seem like a mixture of kerosene & carburetor cleaner. I dont believe it provided any long term lubrication & the thing shouldnt need constant lube anyway. BUT it WAS in need of cleaning & thats what I gave it. Its been several thousand miles & countless starts since then & it still works fine.

[Guest ratchethack]

If were to have used the word "cleaned" instead of the word lubed in my post it may indeed have better described what I did to the starter.

Hey, Richard. You knew exactly wot you were doin', my friend.

 

I reckon I was just lookin' f'er an excuse for a whinge.

 

Thanks.

[Ryland3210]

I'm curious: Which type of mechanism drives the starter pinion into the flywheel in this engine, and what type of mechanism ratchets or automatically withdraws the pinion when the engine starts?

 

On the topic of lubrication, Suzuki markets a lithium soap grease the lable says "must" be used in universal joints.

 

I've been using Lithium grease out of the same tub for 30 years, so I can certainly vouch for its stability. No separation or change of any kind. I've only used it for sliding applications with minimal contact pressure, so I'm wondering how well it does in a bearing joint.

[Guest ratchethack]

I'm curious: Which type of mechanism drives the starter pinion into the flywheel in this engine, and what type of mechanism ratchets or automatically withdraws the pinion when the engine starts?

John, the "Bendix Starter Drive", which to my increasingly questionable memory, carries the name of the inventor (?) is a device internal to the drive gear mechanism on the starter motor that uses a simple ramp, ratchet, and spring to cause it to slide forward on the starter motor shaft, into engagement with the flywheel when the starter motor is spun. As soon as the driven motor starts, the starter gear is now driven at a higher speed by the flywheel. This causes the gear to retract again on its shaft.

 

Hey, I was right.

 

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