SteveHebert Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 So there I was.......Don't you just love stories that start like this. Seriously though, so there I was sitting on the bike after work getting ready for the ride home. Gear on, visor down, key on and starter pressed. She roars to life and purrrrs like a sweet little airhead that she is, except something sounds a bit strange. I am parked next to a very large heating and cooling unit which is running and is very loud, but I cannot mistake the sound of a STUCK or ENGAGED starter! Thelma you b*&^h, (I say that affectionately) you did it to me again! So I turn the key off and nothing. I pull the key out and get off the bike. Of course it starts to fall over and settled gently on my foot and the engine cover. Very minor scratch, I can live with that. But the STARTER is still engaged! Thoughts run through my head of a burning and melted bike all caused by an overheated starter so I come up with the plan of disconnecting the battery. This all happens in seconds of course. Now the task of getting to the tools under the seat. The right bag must come off so the seat can be raised. The latch is locked to the bike! I bet I have locked that only one time before and this is not good. It takes just a second to get to the lock and remove the bag but in the meantime, the STARTER is still engaged! I am flying now like super man. Hands flying in the air, riding gear being stripped because it is friggin hot down here in Alabama! I get the seat up and tools removed and get the battery disconnected! That was not fun, but I learned just a bit more about sweet Thelma. I ended up jump starting her and riding home. Now the task of figuring out if it is just a cheap relay , or a new pricey starter . I have the starter off the bike and will begin trying to figure this all out. Any suggestions out there? My life is never dull with these glorious riding machines. Link to comment
ncsonderman Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 Great story, I can picture it happening to anyone! Let's hope for an inexpensive fix for Thelma! Link to comment
Kinsley Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 Steve, You have the worst luck I hope it's an inexpensive and easy repair and no, I don't want to ride with you just in case it's contagious Link to comment
Lone_RT_rider Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 Steve, You have the worst luck I hope it's an inexpensive and easy repair and no, I don't want to ride with you just in case it's contagious Don't we have a mutual friend from ATL in the relay business? Wow man, I thought my luck has been bad lately. Hang in there! Shawn Link to comment
Spike Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 I can just picture us sitting in that booth during lunch at EP and you telling all of the stories of your lovely Thelma. You know there is help out there. People get freed from abusive relationships all of the time. Link to comment
steve.foote Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 Jeez, Steve, I'm speechless. The really funny part of all this is that you fly helicopters. Link to comment
Fasterpill Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 The really funny part of all this is that you fly helicopters. Yeah, but they don't have retractable side stands... If you could keep that starter engaged you'd have the first RT hybrid. Looking forward to your "There I was... and now it's fixed" post. Link to comment
SteveHebert Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 I can just picture us sitting in that booth during lunch at EP and you telling all of the stories of your lovely Thelma. You know there is help out there. People get freed from abusive relationships all of the time. Spike, Thelma is very upset with your post. I now have to make things right with her. I will be in the garage all night long driniking beer and consoling her. I mean what fun what it be to just kick her aside and get another? A reliable machine, now that is just plain boring! Here is an update for the more sensitive crowd, those that care about this little darling that I have grown so attached to: I brought the starter to Bubba's Starter and Alternator shop this morning to have them check it out. The conversation was something like: Watcha gut dere? That is one big motor bike starter. I can fixer right up fer ya. $29 later and about 10 minutes and he was right. I was impressed. It just needed a new solenoid and he happened to have one that fit and matched the electrical posts on the old one. Anyway, I am off to the garage to put sweet Thelma back together. More later. Link to comment
JayW Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I'll give you $20 for a video of this scenerio to play when I get depressed - any security cameras nearby? I suspect I'd have to turn the sound off if my kids watched with me. Glad you got 'er fixed up. Jay Link to comment
Peter W Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Ha (sorry). Same thing happened to me on my (now sold) K100RS. You feel like you have no control. I was in luck and within 5 miles of a dealer and rode there and they quickly disconnected the battery (which you can do without removing anything on that bike). I told them it was a stuck relay. They argued they needed to check it out, but I was sure, so I said then sell me the relay and I'll put it in. They acquieced and put a new relay it and lo' it fixed it. Great dealer (BMW of Ventura County). I'm surprised it was the solenoid. Pete Link to comment
SteveHebert Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 I thought is was the relay as well until Rick Jones of motoelektrik told me that it was probably the solenoid. I had the answer by then though from the bubba crowd. I took the starter apart tonight and gave it a very good cleaning. It was nasty! After putting her back together and not finding any extra parts , I hit the start button and Thelma sang me the sweet song of a boxer firing up and idling. As they say down heya in Alabamie "It don't get much better dan dat!" I am sure there will be more to follow.......Thanks for all the love from my buddies. You know who you are . Link to comment
BULLman Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Glad you got her back together again As a once owner of a character bike I feel for you ....at least YOU seem to have things in control Awaiting for the next adventure Link to comment
Marty Hill Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Dear Steve, You need to get a 12GS. I think I know of one that will be for sale at the next BB&B. Link to comment
tallman Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Dear Steve, You need to get a 12GS. I think I know of one that will be for sale at the next BB&B. Not very likely. BB&B is three LOOOONg months away. I'd expect a new bike by then for some unknown GS rider. Steve, We've done about a dozen Valeo starters, is yours also one? Good luck, get out of the garage and ride. Link to comment
Spike Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 ... Thelma is very upset with your post. I now have to make things right with her.... Ask her if she likes to go camping Link to comment
SteveHebert Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 ... Thelma is very upset with your post. I now have to make things right with her.... Ask her if she likes to go camping You had to go there didn't you? Where is Jim when we need a little whipping boy? Link to comment
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