imported post
For the past month or two, the starter clutch has been giving problems. Starter would spin but engine would not. As suggested by members of this forum, this is not uncommon & Seafoam in the crankcase could well help by removing varnish deposits.
It is not riding season here & Seafoam not available everywhere but I did find a supplier. Put the can into the crankcase & ran engine at 2000rpm for 15minutes. Cooling fan cycled a few times. Stopped engine & tried to restart it. The starter motor just engaged then stopped. Would not turn hot engine over even though the battery was just fine.
Decided to remove starter & open it up. Relatively easy to get it out, but had to remove the gear change lever. On opening up starter there was a pile of carbon dust at the brush end. Cleaned it all out, polished the commutator with crocus cloth & cleaned between the copper segments. Put high melting grease in the plain bearings & softer grease on the planetary gears. Put it all back together & installed it back in the engine. Was a bit worried about getting the gear drive into the sprocket on the chain but went in easily.
Cranked the engine & it now turns over like an express train with no apparent starter clutch problems. Haven't actually run the engine again to get it hot & tried to start it again hot, but I think it will be ok.
So, 1 can of Seafoam & 1hr to refurbish the starter motor, cheap if it has solved the 2 problems.
For the past month or two, the starter clutch has been giving problems. Starter would spin but engine would not. As suggested by members of this forum, this is not uncommon & Seafoam in the crankcase could well help by removing varnish deposits.
It is not riding season here & Seafoam not available everywhere but I did find a supplier. Put the can into the crankcase & ran engine at 2000rpm for 15minutes. Cooling fan cycled a few times. Stopped engine & tried to restart it. The starter motor just engaged then stopped. Would not turn hot engine over even though the battery was just fine.
Decided to remove starter & open it up. Relatively easy to get it out, but had to remove the gear change lever. On opening up starter there was a pile of carbon dust at the brush end. Cleaned it all out, polished the commutator with crocus cloth & cleaned between the copper segments. Put high melting grease in the plain bearings & softer grease on the planetary gears. Put it all back together & installed it back in the engine. Was a bit worried about getting the gear drive into the sprocket on the chain but went in easily.
Cranked the engine & it now turns over like an express train with no apparent starter clutch problems. Haven't actually run the engine again to get it hot & tried to start it again hot, but I think it will be ok.
So, 1 can of Seafoam & 1hr to refurbish the starter motor, cheap if it has solved the 2 problems.
