Starter occasionlally spins without engaging

[Fudd]

My friend with a 2000 Interstate said, his starter spins without engaging on cold mornings on the 1st attempt at starting.  So far, it has engaged and started normally after releasing the starter button and re-attempting.  No issues after the engine warms up.

I realize this starter uses an internal Sprague clutch and not a bendix, so I'm a little unsure where to clean and regrease or what other remedies should be done.

Has anyone run into this problem or have suggestions?  It sounds like a good time to put a spare starter on the shelf, just in case.

[old2soon]

My 99 I/S 74546 miles is turning the engine as soon as I hit the button. Does he have a GOOD battery-grounds and hot leads good connections?? Other than those-maybe someone else will chime in. RIDE SAFE.

[hubcapsc]

I realize this starter uses an internal Sprague clutch and not a bendix,

I think you just said its not like my tractor   ... two or three adjacent
teeth on the ring gear inside the motor of my tractor got worn out. This
ring gear is what the starter turns, and for some reason they tend to
stop near the same place, that's why it was good all around except for
these three teeth. For a while it would hang on these three goobered
up teeth and I'd have to put the tractor in 4th gear and rock it
until the starter was at some good teeth. Then I took the starter out
and filed down the goobered up teeth. After that it would just spin if
it stopped there, and I'd have to put the tractor in 4th gear and
move it to some good teeth. I don't know what's up with your
pal's Valkyrie, but I hope he has all his teeth... I had to get the
tractor man to actually split my tractor in two, and the teeth on the
gear inside the Valkyrie motor are hard to get to as well...



-Mike

[Chrisj CMA]

I would get a small light and inspect inside the oil fill hole at several positions of the gears to see if you can spot any broken ones..........Sounds like a possible hydrolock victim

[Fudd]

I would get a small light and inspect inside the oil fill hole at several positions of the gears to see if you can spot any broken ones..........Sounds like a possible hydrolock victim

I don't think hydrolock or weak battery is the case here.

The temperature has to be in the low 40's and it only does it once before starting normally.  It's like the starter engagement mechanism has to get "loosened-up", before working right.

[Ricky-D]

If that be the case, then I'd suggest an oil change might clear up the problem.

***

[Fudd]

If that be the case, then I'd suggest an oil change might clear up the problem.

***

Nope.  Fresh oil and filter last week.  The problem is still there.

[Patrick]

I've not heard of a defective starter clutch, but, anything can happen. I tend to agree that this issue could be related to previous fuel-lock problem.

[Fudd]

The spinning problem is still there.

Its gotten worse, in that, it now does it almost every morning on the first starting attempt and lots of times on the first attempt after work, regardless of air temperature.

Its just too coincidental that it always happens after sitting up for a few hours and never again after that to believe a bad spot in the gear teeth is the problem.

We even replaced the battery with a new one without any change in the issue.

Has anyone ever overhauled a Valk starter?  I see two different overhaul kits available on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360391161978&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

or complete overhaul kit-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ricks-Motorsport-Starter-Rebuild-Kit-Single-Post-Hon-GL1500-Valkyrie-Interstate-/230976075890?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35c73f3872&vxp=mtr

[Michvalk]

If it was me, I'd pull the starter and have a look at the starter and the stuff inside the case before I bought parts. Maybe just it's me.....

[hubcapsc]

I once tried to loosen the top lock nut on my starter's hot wire without
having a low profile wrench to hold the bottom lock nut. It didn't work,
the plastic part inside the starter that holds the bolt head wrung out
instead.

I took the starter apart. It has, like, springy fingers inside that hold the brushes.
Just be aware that stuff inside your starter will go SPROING when you take it
apart. It certainly can be put back together, but it would help if you had
three or four hands, and it would be good if some of them were pretty small   ...

The plastic part I wrung out is about the only part inside the starter that
doesn't have a part number on the parts fiche... I found a low mileage
starter that looked nice (even if they work, a lot of salvage starters
are beater-looking) at pinwall... it was a pretty easy fix.

The starter is one of those parts that's really jambed into a tight place,
taking it off and putting it back on is annoying enough without
dealing with the SPROING...

-Mike

[Fudd]

Thanks Mitchvalk and Hubcapsc.

I think for right now, I'm going to look for a good used one.

[fudgie]

I pulled mine at 55k or so and had a starter/alt guy go thru it. I believed he just lubed it. It was working good b4 I took it to him, just wanted some premaintanance done to it.

[hal47]

Sounds like your spraque clutch is going,there is no maintance on it, and I don,t see where you can bye it, used  starter sounds like your best bet to me,they sell pretty cheap on ebay.  Good luck

[Garland]

If it was me, I'd pull the starter and have a look at the starter and the stuff inside the case before I bought parts. Maybe just it's me.....

+1.  It only takes a few minutes to pull the starter and look in the rear case for a broken tooth or two.