Starter Service

[Dave P]

Hello all, 1996 1100RT, she's bedded down for the winter with the left side panel off, battery in my warm basement. At the close of last riding season the starter began making noise after the engine started and the spin of the starter stopped. It seemed like a sharp, scratchy metallic kinda sound if that in any way describes it.
 

While it sits over the winter and I have that left side panel off, since the starter is pretty easy to remove, is there any "service" that I could do to it? I'd prefer to not buy a new starter if this one can be, "refreshed". Thanks, Dave

[Hosstage]

Do you have a local company that rewinds and rebuilds electric motors, generators, etc? They could take a look at it and clean it up.

Also, a low or tired battery, dirty terminals, internally corroded cables, can do strange things to starting circuits without being the obvious problem.

[dirtrider]

24 minutes ago, Dave P said:

Hello all, 1996 1100RT, she's bedded down for the winter with the left side panel off, battery in my warm basement. At the close of last riding season the starter began making noise after the engine started and the spin of the starter stopped. It seemed like a sharp, scratchy metallic kinda sound if that in any way describes it.
 

While it sits over the winter and I have that left side panel off, since the starter is pretty easy to remove, is there any "service" that I could do to it? I'd prefer to not buy a new starter if this one can be, "refreshed". Thanks, Dave

Afternoon Dave

 

You can disassemble it, clean it, inspect it, then re-lubricate.

 

But with the tendency of the glued-on field magnet shoes coming loose on the 1100 starters at about any time personally I would just replace it now instead of waiting until it strands you somewhere. 

 

 

[Dave P]

Hoss- well I think my battery is probably ok, it's an AGM that's less than a year old. Maybe I'll look into local rebuilders, see if they would take a look at it. Dave

[Skywagon]

Different bike but when I had my 1150RT the starter started making a loud squeal. I took it off, took it apart, and cleaned all the gunk out of it and the starter drive. Probably took 30 minutes or so. Worked like a charm afterwards. 

[dirtrider]

19 minutes ago, Dave P said:

Hoss- well I think my battery is probably ok, it's an AGM that's less than a year old. Maybe I'll look into local rebuilders, see if they would take a look at it. Dave

Afternoon Dave

 

You will still end up with a starter that could have a magnet come loose unless they spot that then sell you a new starter (ask about that & the price  before committing to starter service).

 

EURO MOTOELECTRICS at 1-303-526-0901 has a new starter that fits your 1100 motorcycle at about $119.00 (I'm not sure about shipping though). My guess is you will have at least 3/4 of that (or more) into having your  starter serviced & that is if it doesn't need many parts. 

 

At least the EURO MOTOELECTRICS starter price will give you something to gauge the local starter shop prices off of.

[Michaelr11]

1 hour ago, Dave P said:

Hoss- well I think my battery is probably ok, it's an AGM that's less than a year old. Maybe I'll look into local rebuilders, see if they would take a look at it. Dave

 

I replaced the starter in my 1100RT with a drop-in replacement from DB Electrical.  It's been in my RT for over 4 years, over 61,000 miles and runs perfectly.  I paid a little over $60 for it.

[Skywagon]

Hey DR....do you recall which years the starter had the magnet issue? 

[szurszewski]

+1 to replacing it. I had good luck cleaning/lubing the one on my S - worked great when re-installed - but it eventually (a year or two later) started acting up again. Replaced it with an aftermarket starter and all good since. 

[dirtrider]

11 hours ago, Skywagon said:

Hey DR....do you recall which years the starter had the magnet issue? 

Morning David

 

Pretty well all 1100 boxer bikes that used glued-in permanent magnets. There was a change sometime in (or around)  2002 with the starter magnets getting additional retaining clips.