Hi guys. My SSie has been standing 6 months, I turn the back wheel every month or so to change position of the belts. It was fine when I put it into hibernation. I put a good battery on it this week and the starter motor won't turn it over. Everything else is good, fuel pump primes and the solenoid clicks, the motor turns a fraction occasionally but it's as if I have flat battery. I've tried 2 good batteries and even with plugs out it won't spin so I'm guessing either the starter motor or sprag is gummed up or fkd. Any ideas anyone? And a easy fix without taking it to bits would be handy! Cheers Keith.
Tighten the bolts on the solenoid terminals? I had not dissimilar symptoms a couple weeks back, it was just a case of nipping up the bolts by an extra quarter turn each.
could be above plus many things Keith but i'm going to be optimistic and plump for that little devil the starter solenoid - not sure if yours is the same as earlier type? (Hitachi/yellow sticker/round metal body) but these can suffer from light corrosion both within the unit and where the tiny plug contacts enough to momentarily keep cutting out with similar symptoms.
a further (lazy) thought - if you are certain battery is tip-top/charged you could very briefly try and churn starter with lights on. If they dim noticeably and stay dim on churning then it's getting through to starter if not then could be getting 'tripped' somewhere on route (like solenoid(s)/connectors etc) Arquebus (AL) had similar symptoms recently but can't remember outcome.
Well spotted Chris........Exactly what mine did. Eventually changed the battery which had been failing a bit and the sprag, which I reckon was knackered.........certainly the sprag spring was and I wasn't going to take a chance on just changing the spring. Exactly the same bearing from a KTM dealer is under half the cost of a Ducati one.
Ok so I turned engine backwards, nothing, although with plugs out it goes forward a lot easier than backwards? The solenoid connections are tight. The lights dim when starter engaged so deffo sprag or starter motor problem that has developed while bike has been hibernating. If it's just a lazy starter motor how can I free it off without taking it out. I've tried tapping it. Cheers,
have you tried putting a direct feed to the starter with a jump lead to see if it turns over any better to asses if its the starter or feed to the starter
I borrowed an emergency power pack thing and connected it direct to starter motor terminal and earth....zilch, nada, nothing. Unbolted end cap and the body casing came off leaving armature behind. Taped the end cap to release it to check the brushes and the +ve was very low. I've ordered a set of GS125 brushes from eBay. £5.75 inc pp To be continued.......
Ok. All fixed. Starter brushes installed with motor off the bike. Oil/filter changed. As I had the alternator cover off I saw the gearbox sprocket was floating due to the retaining plate being shagged so it was good to fix that before I go out on it. All systems go for MOT Saturday and super sausage Sunday.
