93 K1100LT Next Steps??

[Jackson]

Greeting from the little college town of Clemson, SC,

Recently my k-bike is not wanting to turn over. I did some research on here and found out that the starter causes some crazy problems. I wanted to get some insight on the problems I am having to see if that is the appropriate route to take.

Firstly, my bike seems to stutter when turning. The battery is at 13+ V key off, ~ 13V key on, and 12.8 V ignition switch on. I feel that that should be sufficient to start the bike and I have had the battery checked recently so that is good. I recently pulled the battery and motronic and cleaned connections, terminals, and the starter ground. It was pretty nasty but it is now clean. Did not help one bit.

I have indeed done the roll back method to clean the starter multiple times. I do have the clutch switch disconnected because it is bad and being a broke college student I have not bought one. I start the bike using a bypass switch as well.

A couple of months ago I replaced the fuel pump on the bike but the pump does prime so I feel it would not be an issue with fuel unless it is farther down the fuel chain or Hall sensor?? I believe. Should I pull the starter and try to clean/rebuild it or could it be in another area? Any help would be greatly appreciated. These bikes, as I have come to learn, are complicated and tricky. Thanks y'all!

[Gio]

Sounds like your battery is good (but you could also try another battery or friendly boost just to be sure?) and so am thinking next step would be to pull the starter and bench test / inspect it ... although am curious about reference to your "by-pass" switch ??

[Jackson]

I have tried a boost with my tender/charger. What would a bench test be? Would I just need to pull the starter apart and measure the brushes and clean them? also the by-pass switch is just a switch to start the bike that by-passes all the switches like clutch, sidestand, etc.

[Gio]

Although your voltage test suggests battery is good - my thinking is that a load test always better (and perhaps this was done?) - so before diving into the starter I would rule out / confirm battery is good (ie if not good - boosting with tender/charger will not confirm) ... you could try connecting to an alternate good battery / boost from a car to rule out this possibility ..?

[Jackson]

I load tested a while ago when clutch switch went out so that should be fine and I will do that again. Or boost with a car or the like. If that does not help me then I will pull that darn starter and give it a whirl.

[Laitch]

Firstly, my bike seems to stutter when turning.

Does that happen when you're making a tight turn, just leaning the moto, or when it's idling and the handlebar is turned?

[The Mighty Gryphon]

The brushes in the starter are a very important part of the electrical circuitry of the bike.  If the bike has 60,000 miles it would be a very good idea to pull the starter to clean the commutator and check the length of the brushes.  A clean commutator and good brush contact is critical to prevent strange electrical problems like the starter not working.

It shouldn't be that hard to remove it.  You can get it out and on the bench, clean and check it, and reinstall it in a couple hours.  Not many tools needed either, just a 10mm wrench, a screwdriver and a 5mm Allen wrench.  I use rubbing alcohol, an old toothbrush and a couple toothpicks to clean the commutator.

Just curious, when you try to start, does the headlight go out, indicating that the ground path through the starter is triggering the load shed relay.

[Scott_]

tell us more about your battery.
How old is it.
Specifically what brand/model(part#)/type is it..... because it can make a difference.
When you are trying to start your bike, are you getting ABS system faults(alternating flashing lights). Or are the light flashing together(synchronized).

I've recently dealt with a similar stuttering when starting issue. The battery was a good one, less than a year old(it came with the bike, bought by the previous owner), however--- it wasn't big enough in the cranking amps rating. The starter would hesitate/stutter, and I would get ABS system faults constantly.
I replaced it with a recommended larger CA rated battery, and all will be good. Once I can ride again.....

[Jackson]

Does that happen when you're making a tight turn, just leaning the moto, or when it's idling and the handlebar is turned?

When I meant turning I was meaning the starter spinning the motor. Not while riding the bike. It was running great when it did start.

[Jackson]

tell us more about your battery.
How old is it.
Specifically what brand/model(part#)/type is it..... because it can make a difference.
When you are trying to start your bike, are you getting ABS system faults(alternating flashing lights). Or are the light flashing together(synchronized).

So the battery is about a year old. It was installed by my father-in-law when he owned the bike. He is a mechanic so he got a nice AGM Battery for it. It has the required cranking amps for the bike. It is on the bike right now but when it stops monsooning I will double checks model to make sure it is good for the bike.

The ABS light is flashing and making a clicking sound when the key is on. It has always done that because after some maintenance he did on it he never reset the system, at least that is what he told me the reason for the flash was. Could that be another problem itself?

[Jackson]

The brushes in the starter are a very important part of the electrical circuitry of the bike.  If the bike has 60,000 miles it would be a very good idea to pull the starter to clean the commutator and check the length of the brushes.  A clean commutator and good brush contact is critical to prevent strange electrical problems like the starter not working.

Just curious, when you try to start, does the headlight go out, indicating that the ground path through the starter is triggering the load shed relay.

That makes sense. The bike just hit a tad over 82,000 miles and I do not believe the starter has been cleaned at all. I think I will go ahead and pull the starter, measure brushes, and clean it.

The headlight does go out when I try to start the bike. I checked all the relays and replaced them with new ones when I was blowing a fuse recently.

[koapono]

once it's removed and cleaned mount starter in a vice and bench test, throw 12VDC to it and let 'er spin. at the very least you'll know it spins freely (or not).

[Past-my-Prime]

Also, if you disassemble and reassemble the starter, make sure you don't put it together backwards. At least 90% of the time they are put in so that they spin the wrong way.

[Laitch]

At least 90% of the time they are put in so that they spin the wrong way.

That's a startling failure rate considering there are only two ways to put them in.   

[Jackson]

That's a startling failure rate considering there are only two ways to put them in.   

I may not be a smart man but I think you're on to something. 

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I can't speak for anyone else, but 50/50 odds are good enough for me to be wrong 90% of the time.

[Laitch]

... 50/50 odds are good enough for me to be wrong 90% of the time.

You're mistaken.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

You're mistaken.

Absolutely.

[volador]

You're mistaken.

Absolutely.

Upstate bolsheviks having thread conversation again. Brilliant! 

[Jackson]

After cleaning the starter and reinstalling all parts the bike still did not run. I hooked up a battery to it to jump it over and it finally starter!

So now I know I need a new battery. To make sure I get the right one what is the requirements for my bike and what brand do y'all suggest?

[Laitch]

The battery you had in there was only a year old. An experienced mechanic installed it. What is the make, model and CCA number on it? Did you allow it to discharge multiple times?

[Jackson]

The battery you had in there was only a year old. An experienced mechanic installed it. What is the make, model and CCA number on it? Did you allow it to discharge multiple times?

So the fuel pump went out on it, I was blowing a fuse from the clutch switch and I  thought the starter was bad so after trying to start after multiple issues I think it made the battery go bad. Also the cold weather and the bike has always been garage kept until I bought it because I live in a town house while in college. All of those things and the fact that I had to jump it with another battery makes me know its a bad battery but I think I found the battery I am going to get.

[Laitch]

 

[Scott_]

The battery you had in there was only a year old. An experienced mechanic installed it. What is the make, model and CCA number on it? Did you allow it to discharge multiple times?

I asked the same questions up in post #7...... I didn't get an adequate answer either....

[Jackson]

I asked the same questions up in post #7...... I didn't get an adequate answer either....

The reason I didn’t say is because I do not know and the battery has been installed on the bike. When I pulled the starter I completely forgot to look at it and see and it has been pouring or I’ve been too busy to actually uninstall the battery to look.