First Major Breakdown

eonan

eonan

New member
After a 400 mile round trip, I pull up a cashpoint in Perth, only 10 miles to go home. I start her up and pull off down to the first set of traffic lights. At the lights I can smell burning. By the time I get to the second set theres a lot of smoke now and a horrendous screaching niose :eek:

The smoke seemed to be coming from the starter motor. I pull in and stop, try to fire her up again...she's turning but there's that screaching again :(

Is this the starter motor that's gone then do you think?

It would be great if someone could tell me for sure, then I can get one ordered today before I leave and have it by the time I get back.

I think there's a good argument here for having three bikes ;)
 
must admit it sounds like a sticking starter motor not disengaging but without seeing it i couldnt be sure
 
try for a second hand one, heaps cheaper, if you dig up my thread when i changed mine its got the name and place of a breaker that done me one really cheap :D
 
Cheers Gordon...think I'll need to. £280 for a new one...not a bad price I suppose, just bad timing!
 
I think there's a good argument here for having three bikes ;)[/QUOTE]

Aww naw, Winter project mark 3 comin up. Save yur money fur babooshka :p :D
 
Gordon thanks for that contact mate. Jim's got one...a practically brand new motor from a 749...£68 inc P&P

Cannae say fairer than that :thumbs:

Tam...in my warped mind, that's £220 I've just found to spend ;)
 
Niall,
Hard luck about your breakdown. They happen to all of us sooner or later.:(

However, I suspect it's not just the starter. I can think of two scenarios that will give you these symptoms.

1. The starter sprag clutch has seized so that he starter is permanently engaged to the motor and is driven by it all the time. The sprag clutch is like a freewheel so that once the engine starts the starter is disengaged. Usually when they wear they slip and the starter turns but the engine doesn't.

2. The starter solenoid points (or the starter button) have jammed keeping the starter permanently energised.

In view of the smoke and burning smell I'd be inclined to think it's the latter but you would have noticed the starter turning as soon as you turned the key so maybe it is the sprag clutch. The starter itself may be salvageable with a new set of brushes and the bearings re-greased.
You will have spare bits to get you going in the 900 engine which you've got in bits just now ;)
 
Derek said:
Niall,
Hard luck about your breakdown. They happen to all of us sooner or later.:(

However, I suspect it's not just the starter. I can think of two scenarios that will give you these symptoms.

1. The starter sprag clutch has seized so that he starter is permanently engaged to the motor and is driven by it all the time. The sprag clutch is like a freewheel so that once the engine starts the starter is disengaged. Usually when they wear they slip and the starter turns but the engine doesn't.

2. The starter solenoid points (or the starter button) have jammed keeping the starter permanently energised.

In view of the smoke and burning smell I'd be inclined to think it's the latter but you would have noticed the starter turning as soon as you turned the key so maybe it is the sprag clutch. The starter itself may be salvageable with a new set of brushes and the bearings re-greased.
You will have spare bits to get you going in the 900 engine which you've got in bits just now ;)
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WOW! Derek, once again your knowledge of these bikes just blows me away :eek: :hail: So...just to be on the safe side, what should I replace? I've ordered the starter motor from Jim at the breakers that Gordon recommended...what else?

I'm not wanting to start splitting up the 900 like that, I'm freaking out at what I've done to a perfectly good machine already :D ...So I'd rather just order in the parts I need and replace them. Thanks :thumbs:
 
eonan said:
WOW! Derek, once again your knowledge of these bikes just blows me away :eek: :hail: So...just to be on the safe side, what should I replace? I've ordered the starter motor from Jim at the breakers that Gordon recommended...what else?

I'm not wanting to start splitting up the 900 like that, I'm freaking out at what I've done to a perfectly good machine already :D ...So I'd rather just order in the parts I need and replace them. Thanks :thumbs:
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I think you will need to strip it to find out waht else you need but the sprag clutch is in the starter gear behind the flywheel - it's like a bearing with no inner race and a spring in it. If you haven't already bought a Haynes book buy one now! I'm away for the next couple of days but will be back at the weekend, if you get stuck give me a ring.
Cheers:thumbs:
 
In a peverse kinda way I like it...if everything worked the way it should it would get boring after a while...erm, wouldn't it? :dunno: :D

Well I certainly won't be thinking about it for the next two weeks...off to Kiev tomorrow...I'm sure my starter motor will have no problems firing there whatsoever ;)
 
eonan said:
Well I certainly won't be thinking about it for the next two weeks...off to Kiev tomorrow...I'm sure my starter motor will have no problems firing there whatsoever ;)
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If you happen to spot a nice Zorki 3 going cheap eonan ;)
 
Hmmm good point , I could probably pick one up on Ebay for £40-50 and postage is usually around £12-15 so roughly £40 tops in all honesty for a usable one obviously less for a dog , non working isnt really a problem as I can usually fix them with a bit of patience :D
 
Screwy said:
Hmmm good point , I could probably pick one up on Ebay for £40-50 and postage is usually around £12-15 so roughly £40 tops in all honesty for a usable one obviously less for a dog , non working isnt really a problem as I can usually fix them with a bit of patience :D
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I have a look :thumbs: My mate got himself a pretty rare Leica when he was vising me once for a steal. One of the ones they made for the reconnaissance guys in the Luftwaffe during the second world war.
 
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