Starter Pinon Cluch Clean??

[Lockguy]

2004 R1150RT, 50,000 miles

 

I pulled the starter to clean and lube because it was giving me a little squeal at start up. The cleaning and lube is fine down to the motor. I pulled the snap ring, retainer and pinion clutch assembly down to bare shaft. My question is: Is the squeal coming from the pinon clutch assembly and is this a sealed assembly? I am thinking the squeal is happening when the pinion doesn't snap back and the flywheel spins the pinion on the clutch. It is a bit lumpy in turning but not really bad.

 

Thanks

Curtis

[ragtoplvr]

I do not know about yours, but mine was clutch dust in the bushings. There is a small rivet holding on the planetary reduction gear, you can remove it and not reinstall. Good cleaning and relubricate with non-moly grease. No more noise last 30 K

 

Rod

[Selden]

I do not know about yours, but mine was clutch dust in the bushings. There is a small rivet holding on the planetary reduction gear, you can remove it and not reinstall. Good cleaning and relubricate with non-moly grease. No more noise last 30 K

 

Rod

Although I didn't use moly grease when I cleaned and lubed my starter, I'm wondering why the warning?

 

I don't think my starter had ever been cleaned, as it was absolutely filthy:

 

Before

 

After

[eddd]

Not snapping back was the problem with mine. I cleaned and lubed without disassembling to the point of needing a puller as is suggested by some.

 

[ragtoplvr]

I do not know but I have heard that moly grease is bad for bronze oilite type bushings. I have opened many new OE starters, and all of them use a non moly grease on the bushings and roller bearings. The innards of the drive and the spline will often use moly grease, that is the only place you will find any. Even in that application, silicone grease is often used.

 

So I figure why tempt fate.

 

Rod

[eddd]

I do not know but I have heard that moly grease is bad for bronze oilite type bushings. I have opened many new OE starters, and all of them use a non moly grease on the bushings and roller bearings. The innards of the drive and the spline will often use moly grease, that is the only place you will find any. Even in that application, silicone grease is often used.

 

So I figure why tempt fate.

 

Rod

 

Now that you mention it, I recall that the procedure I was following did call for silicone grease.

 

[roger 04 rt]

2004 R1150RT, 50,000 miles

 

I pulled the starter to clean and lube because it was giving me a little squeal at start up. The cleaning and lube is fine down to the motor. I pulled the snap ring, retainer and pinion clutch assembly down to bare shaft. My question is: Is the squeal coming from the pinon clutch assembly and is this a sealed assembly? I am thinking the squeal is happening when the pinion doesn't snap back and the flywheel spins the pinion on the clutch. It is a bit lumpy in turning but not really bad.

 

Thanks

Curtis

 

I had the problem. The copper colored solenoid was slow to retract. Cleaned it and the barrel it fits in, very lightly lubricated.

 

While I was at it, cleaned and lubed the pinion gear.

 

RB

 

[Lockguy]

Thanks for all the comments. I just finished my cleaning, lubing and installing this afternoon and it seems to work fine. I wound up using 3 in 1 silicone spray lube as it was all I could find after searching 2 autoparts stores and Lowes. I talked to a local starter rebuilder and he said it didn't matter much what you used.

[mikecrml]

After seeing this, and having once in a while problems with my 2004 RTP(65K) I pulled the starter and it was dirty but not so nasty, but also French.I think that is the problem.... I noticed that the starter and flywheel only engage about 1/2 of what they should on the flywheel like the pictures perviously. Is that somthing to deal with? What else should I do with the starter out. I can't even see the splines. The clutch looks new. Torn down and its time to ride in California! Help please!

[mikecrml]

I anyone wants a complete set of RTP crash bars for cheap send a message. I've got front and rear with minor crash scrapes.