Slow crank /no crank starter issues

[mark81]

2001 interstate
starter doesn't crank or cranks very slowly with a light tap from a wrench. 

Replaced with parts bike starter and she spins better than the original did back when it worked great.

My question is do you think new brushes are going to bring it back or is it too far gone at this point and I should find another used one to replace the one on the project parts bike? 

[Hook#3287]

Valk starters are pretty robust.

If your battery and wiring check out, then pulling the starter and checking or replacing the brushes may help.

The armature could be suspect.

If replacement is needed, I'd go the used route of a different starter.

[Jims99]

Could it have had bad connection somewhere and they made better connection when replacing with the other one? Starters are usually not an issue, but unless it's overheated or submerged in water, usually new brushes will do the trick.

[mark81]

It's 100% the starter. Not a bad ground or wiring issue. I checked 20 times before pulling the starter. I bench tested the old one after it came out and used one before installing.  12v + and - straight off a good battery to the starter and nothing till it gets a light tap and then it barely spins.  I guess I'll pull it apart this week sometime and see how bad it's buggered up inside.

[98valk]

It's 100% the starter. Not a bad ground or wiring issue. I checked 20 times before pulling the starter. I bench tested the old one after it came out and used one before installing.  12v + and - straight off a good battery to the starter and nothing till it gets a light tap and then it barely spins.  I guess I'll pull it apart this week sometime and see how bad it's buggered up inside.

todays batteries can drop a cell and still register 12V. usually a good battery should be about 13V.  hook up a charger to the battery and then try the starter.  if starter works then its a bad battery.

[Pluggy]

It is easy to check the armature with a multimeter, as there may be an open in one section.  When a brush meets that spot on the commutator, the motor is disconnected, internally. 

On a 4 cylinder Honda, the eBay replacement motor I purchased was garbage, except for the armature.  That armature + rebuild kit + the old starter = a good working starter. 

[sandy]

Do the starter button switch service on the tech page.

[mark81]

It is easy to check the armature with a multimeter, as there may be an open in one section.  When a brush meets that spot on the commutator, the motor is disconnected, internally. 

On a 4 cylinder Honda, the eBay replacement motor I purchased was garbage, except for the armature.  That armature + rebuild kit + the old starter = a good working starter. 

Thanks for that info. I'll do a little research on testing the armature and check it when I pull the brushes to see how bad they are. 



For the comments about checking the electrical system on the bike. I have. Several times Grounds included. The starter is still bad when removed from the bike and hooked straight to a known good and tested battery with plenty capacity for this little starter motor.

[Pluggy]

Hey, Mark.  Bad bearings can happen, and I've seen it.  Easy to check when the armature is pulled out.