Starter engaging with motor running

mdkuni

mdkuni

New member
Joined
Apr 7, 2004
Messages
250
Location
Houghton Lake, MI
I had an issue with my gauge lights going out on a 98 Vmax 600.In trying to find the cause, I noticed when I run the sled on the stand at high rpm's the starter gear works it way out and hits the clutch. So I pulled the starter and had it rebuilt.

After reinstalling the starter, I got the same results. High rpm on the stand and the starter gear works it's way out and hits the clutch.

I then went and tested running a 00 Venture on a stand and noticed the same thing happened. High rpm's and the starter gear hits the clutch. So, is there a problem with both the starters or is it because I am running on the stand and the vibrations/airflow are forcing the gear out?
 
Last edited:
Only way to know for sure is go give them both similar rpms while not on the stand. Hard to beleive they both have same problem, especially after rebuild on first one.
 
Hard to believe the starter gear is coming out on it's own even with vibration. Any chance you've got a wire that's been worn through touching ground causing the starter motor to engage? I'd check the wiring around your ignition switch and starter solenoid for breaks or cuts.
 
mdkuni said:
Even with the battery unhooked this will still happen. So it is safe to rule out this is not a connection issue.
Click to expand...

On both sleds? Maybe put a lil extra white lithium grease on the shaft. The starter motor should be able to over power the grease where it should stop the vibration from letting it wander out.
 
Devilin AblueDress! said:
On both sleds? Maybe put a lil extra white lithium grease on the shaft. The starter motor should be able to over power the grease where it should stop the vibration from letting it wander out.
Click to expand...


I only tested on the Vmax, although I can't see it being any different on the Venture. The way the starter gear works it way out certainly does not look like it is doing so due to being powered.
 
The shop I took the sled to replaced the spring with a stiffer spring and this still did not resolve the problem. Any ideas?
 
mdkuni said:
The shop I took the sled to replaced the spring with a stiffer spring and this still did not resolve the problem. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Kind of a dumb suggestion but did you remove the power wire from the starter to the starter solenoid or just disconnect it at the battery? I am wondering if you are somehow getting a small amount of power backfed through the starter circuit and it's just enough to engage the nose of the started but not enough to actually turn it. It's a long shot but hard to believe it'd mechanically work it's way out with a new and stiffer spring.

Jeremy
 
It is an inertia type drive. Electricity does not make it engage, motion does.

I would say that it is because you are running it on a stand.
Close the hood, get on it and drive it and don't worry about it.
 
When I tested the starter I just disconnected the positive from the battery. I am not sure how the shop tested it, but they said they disconnected it as well.

This is not just happening on the stand. It is still happening when driving the sled at high RPM. At night you can see the shower of sparks while driving.
 
Okay - open the hood.
Look for a cause of a vibration. Does the sled seem to have an abnormal vibration?
Most likely place would be the clutch. Disassemble it and look for anything broken, badly worn, or out of place. The X's embossed on the clutch parts have to line up to balance it.
 
Problem has been resolved. The shop ended up installing a new starter. No more sparks. I guess the shaft was worn just enough that the bendix could walk its way out. New starter works great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top