Starter Problem

[CCruiser]

I went to start my 99 Std. and heard a horrendous clattering noise when the starter went to engage.  I had not turned the replacement Pringle valve off.  I pulled all the plugs and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.  I blew air into the cylinders, all seems dry.  I gave the bike a few days to dry anything out and hit the starter, again with the plugs out.  I hear a healthy spinning noise but nothing else happened.  Since it appears the starter is spinning what would be the next thing and how to trouble shoot?  Also would anyone in the South Florida area be able to help or recommend a shop?

[hubcapsc]

It is real hard to take the starter off (and to put it back on) but
only because it is a tight fit...

If you take it off and look in there at the gear it engages,
you might see a tooth broken off or worse even...

Leaving your non-vacuum petcock on risks gas leaking past
one or more disfunctional carburetor float valves and
filling up the associated top end... mashing the
starter button when there's a hydrolocked top-end
can lead to something somewhere having to give -
often the starter gear...

Good luck...

-Mike

[sandy]

If you're lucky, it might be a low battery so the starter hasn't enough voltage to engage the gears. Try jumping the battery from a "non running" car. PS: The car alternator is too big for the bike's electrical system.

[gordonv]

I hope I say this right, the starter is like a ratchet, it turns one way with force, and spins freely the others way. It's not like a car, where it has a solinoid to push out the starter gear.

We can't really understand what you are saying, other than you suspected a hydro lock.

Did you spin the motor with the plugs out? Does it spin even.

It almost sounds like you need that jump start that's already been recommended.

[CCruiser]

Battery is 6 months old.  Tender had green light.  Voltage at rest 12.7.  Don't think it is the battery, but worth a try jumping I guess, then the starter comes out.  Working through Sunday, so back at it on Monday.  Thanks a head for help.

[F6BANGER]

Did you spin the motor with the plugs out? Does it spin even.

Gordonv asked a good question. Did you turn the motor over right after you pulled the plugs or wait a few days? Another thing you should try if you still have the plugs out is turning the motor over while putting you finger over a spark plug hole and see if the pressure pushes your finger off. If not, the gears could be broken and the starter is just spinning.

[Patrick]

When you hit the starter and heard the clattering noise, was the engine still turning over or did it stop ?  This is very important.
If it stopped, the starter should not be hit again. The sparklers should all be removed and the engine turned over to see which cylinder was fuel locked and then cleared.
It the engine will turn over and the cylinders are clear then install the sparklers and fire it up.
If the starter turns the engine over but makes a strange noise while doing it, you now have some chipped teeth on the drive assy. from a, or the, fuel lock.

[hubcapsc]

Battery is 6 months old.  Tender had green light.  Voltage at rest 12.7.  Don't think it is the battery, but worth a try jumping I guess, then the starter comes out.  Working through Sunday, so back at it on Monday.  Thanks a head for help.

The hot wire to the starter is held on with two nuts locked together.
Low profile nuts, without a low profile wrench it is hard to hold
the bottom one and spin off the top one. The stud is really just
a bolt registered inside the starter with a plastic holder. I didn't
have a low profile wrench to hold the bottom nut, and tried
to just spin off the top nut... and busted the plastic holder inside
the starter. Find a way to hold the bottom nut... you can
grind down a cheap wrench until it is thin enough if you
can't find a low profile wrench...

-Mike