Introduction:
So I haven't been out riding my motorcycle for part of June or any of July. The primary problem was the starter motor on the motorcycle. Between waiting for parts, trying different fixes, and throwing wrenches in frustration across the garage, the repair took me just over a month to complete.
I documented the entire process with my camera so that I could write about the work here. I am hoping that anyone who has had problems working on vintage Yamahas (especially the starter system) will find some useful information here. As such, this will be a very detailed posting. I broke it up into three pieces to make things more manageable. You'll see Part II and Part III written later this week hopefully. Until then, I hope this is enough to tempt your appetite.
The Problem:
However, this was all pretty manageable until about a month ago. A few weeks back, I was going to make a ride up to Sonora for the second time (about 300 miles from Oceano). Unfortunately, I made it two miles to the gas station and couldn't get my bike to restart reliably. I thought it was the ignition timing so I took the time to retune my engine and that got me running, mostly, for another week or so.
Finally, the starter system gave out in the end of June. I had some trouble with my bike on a steep gravel rode and had dropped it. This was the last straw for the starter because I ended up having to roll start the machine to get it back home. Once it was parked in my garage, I turned off the machine, but left the key in the ignition. Upon hitting the electric start button, all I heard was an ominous "click" and the engine refused to turn over. My bike was officially on strike until I gave it some much needed maintenance. It was time to break out my manual and toolbox and get to work.
Deductions From The Symptoms:
I also thought that I knew that power was not able to get to the starter motor from the battery. I erroneously jumped to the conclusion that, since the motor was not spinning, electricity was not getting to it. Of course, I only discovered this was an erroneous assumption much later in the repair process. Not jumping to conclusions is an important lesson that I find myself reminded of time and again in life. Finally, I knew that when I clicked the electric starter button on the handle, I could hear a distinct clicking. This told me that something was happening in the ignition system. Though, what that something was still alluded me.
So, in summation, I knew:
- the starter motor was not turning,
- the ignition system clicked when I pressed the electric starter,
- I could run the engine by roll start.
- Starter System:
- the battery
- the starter solenoid (depicted in Figure 1 below)
- the starter motor
- the electric starter switch on the handle
- starter clutch
- Ignition System:
- the transistorized ignition unit
- the ignition coils
- the spark plugs
Well, I decided to start troubleshooting the electric starter system because I wasn't getting any engine in the motion in the first place (and because my motorcycle mentor instructed me that was probably the problem). I understand now that if the problem was in the ignition system, the engine would have been turning, but I just wouldn't have been getting any combustion.
Thus, the next step in the troubleshooting process was to test the components of the starter system that were easiest to access, and cheapest to replace. This is the next step because one of the secondary goals of motorcycle maintenance is to minimize the effort put into repairing the machine. This is not due to laziness, but because rebuilding, replacing, or otherwise fixing and entire component that is not broken can cause further problems and cost a lot of time and money. So, my primary methodology is to start with small and simple repairs and work my way up the complications ladder until the problem is fixed.
The Battery:
leads disconnected for safety
So I tried a few tests to see if the battery was the problem. First, I broke out my trusty multimeter and checked the potential across the terminals (this is called voltage by most people, but the correct term is electric potential). Well, the battery had 12.4 volts across the terminals. While this is probably enough for ignition, it is a bit lower than is preferred (12.7 volts is ideal). As such, I was hopeful the battery was simply not putting out enough current (amps) to turn the starter motor. So, I tried a few things. First, I tried jump starting my bike with Thomas's bike (which you're not supposed to do, it's better to jumpstart from a car). Jump starting didn't work, but I decided to replace the battery anyways because the one I had was cheap and old and certainly wasn't holding the ideal charge.
As such, I purchased a new battery that I knew was high quality (from Grover Beach Powersports, one of the best motorcycle shops on the central coast). I trickle charged the battery, hooked it up, and still got nothing but an ominous click. It was time to get out out of denial and start pulling apart the rest of the starter system. The next item on my list to evaluate was the solenoid. However, before getting elbow deep in starter electronics, I did the wise thing and disconnected the negative terminal on my battery (as shown in Figure 2). This prevents a full circuit from being completed in the starter system, and it is a smart idea while working on any electronic circuit. Failure to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery can lead to electrocution while testing other components. While a 12 volt motorcycle battery is not likely to kill you, death is possible, and electrocution will give you a helluva tickle if you're not careful. So, step 1 was safety.
Initial Solenoid Testing:
the starter removed. I am holding the wire
that connects to the starter motor in the picture
The solenoid performs an interesting role in the electrical system of a bike. Essentially, it acts as a transformer coil that steps up the output from the battery in order to deliver sufficient power (potential times current [volts * amps]) to the starter motor to force the starter motor to turn. It consists of two electrical posts, one for the positive terminal of the battery, and one for the wire connecting to the starter motor, that, when bridged, force the starter motor to turn. The posts are bridged upon a signal from the electric starter switch. In Figure 4, you can see both of the posts clearly marked, as well as the wire harness that connects to the electric starter switch up on the throttle handle of the motorcycle.
posts disconnected.
Upon depressing the starter switch button, the reading between the two solenoid posts should drive to 0.0 volts. This tells you that the gap was effectively bridged and current is now flowing from the positive battery terminal, through the solenoid, and into the starter motor. Now, ideally, if this reading pattern does occur, the motor will start to turn (it has power after all), and the engine will begin to turn over. Mind you, the negative terminal of the battery does need to be connected for this test. As such, when performing this test, I connected the battery into what I call a "quick-disconnect" configuration. This configuration is shown below in Figure 5.
only barely connected to the groundwire. This
allows you to grab the goundwire quickly
and pull to break the circuit in the event of an
emergency (electrocution).
Well, with the battery partially connected, and the voltmeter hooked to the two posts of the solenoid, I went ahead and tested the electric switch up on the handle. I saw the potential across the solenoid gap drop to 0 volts and, thus, concluded that the solenoid and electric starter switch were working as desired. The problem had to lay somewhere else.
The next component of the starter system to test, therefore, was the starter motor. This process required many different tests and quite a complex disassembly. Thus, the starter motor work will be the subject of Part II of this project.
Until that post goes up, I'd like to thank you all for reading and invite you to post any comments or questions you have below. You can also find other methods of contacting me on the contact information section of my website. I'll happily do my best to answer any questions or thoughts you have. So I hope to hear from you all soon.
Thanks for reading,
Brady C. Jackson