Starter hanging up

[John U.]

The starter on my '99 I/S seems to hang up when it starts cold. The starter makes a wizzing noise for a second after the engine is running, then all is well. I've owned the bike for two years and it made some different (from my '98) starter noises when I first got it. I don't think it was being run regularly by the PO so I wrote the noises off.
I can't recall this issue being discussed. What do you guys (and girls) think, is this going to cost me? Should I remove and clean/lube the starter gears?
Thanks
John

[Robert]

These starters are not like a car that has a Bendix moving in and out they work with a one way sprag with that said I would look at the starter relay that may be hanging up and not cutting the juice to the starter. I doubt if the sprag is hanging up If by some small chance it is then if you look under hydro lock in the tech section of the archives you will be able to see what has to happen.

[John U.]

Thanks for the info and suggestion Robert. I guess I'll pull the starter during the winter to see what if anything there is to see. This noise is new and I've had no hydrolock that I know of.
I rebuilt the petcock, installed a filter when I first had the bike and even installed a vacume snubber earlier this year. It starts every time. The starter just seems not to disengage promtly. Maybe a loose mounting bolt?
Or maybe I just worry too much.

[Bob E.]

Check your starter button.  Mine will stick every now and then.

[John U.]

Thanks for the replies. I must admit I haven't done any maintenace to the switches since I've had the bike and I really doubt the PO did. I'll start there this winter and see if that fixes things.