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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Murphy strikes again...
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Message started by drums1 on 09/19/07 at 13:08:02

Title: Murphy strikes again...
Post by drums1 on 09/19/07 at 13:08:02

Well, today confirmed what I've dreaded all along. I need a new starter. Was going to ride to work yesterday and-- click click click slow crank click click. I took the battery to work and charged it--30 minutes fully charged, on 2 amp trickle. Hmmmmm. Got home and took starter off--tried to spin it--crunch crunch. Took starter apart--oh my God! Large chunks of the magnet part are broken off. No wonder the dam thing has been hard starting since day 1. I guess I'm done riding for this year. Unless some kind soul has an extra one for an '87 laying around his or her garage. Cheapest rebuilt I can find is $187 dollars, plus shipping. :'(

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by YonuhAdisi on 09/19/07 at 13:19:16

OUCH!! That has to hurt. Wish I could help you out there Drums.

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by verslagen1 on 09/19/07 at 13:32:05

I betcha if you disable the clutch safety, you could push the starter button to activate the decompression solenoid and push start it pretty easy.

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by Reelthing on 09/19/07 at 15:19:57

I see them sometimes on ebay for around $20-25 - here's one out there now for $50 - seems a little high

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220150598909

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by bill67 on 09/19/07 at 16:49:18

if you have a place around there you can have new brushs put in it i did that once 25 years ago

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by splash07 on 09/19/07 at 17:03:05

where are you located, I know willies cycle salvage in Camp Hill AL has several 87 savages still with starters. If your not near then look around in your area for a salvage yard.

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by drums1 on 09/19/07 at 17:34:44

Bill....it's not the brushes...they're fine. It's the huge magnets that are on the inside of the casing. 4 two-piece magnets, glued to inside of outer case. One is whole--the other 3 are in pieces, and one is no longer attached to casing. It's junk. Definately need a new or rebuilt one.
Salvage...yes indeed. There is one somewhere in Milwaukee. I'm 20 minutes south of there. I will try them.
It would be nice if they had one for $25.

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by islandwahine on 09/19/07 at 18:19:24

Can't you hotwire it?
Oh never mind I get it, different starting thingy.

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by drums1 on 09/19/07 at 19:01:16

Ya, it's the starter that's bad, not the current to it. Where is the kick start when you need it?

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by slavy on 09/19/07 at 20:48:39

If You want, I'll sell You the starter off my donor bike for $50 + $5 shipping. The donor is 1996, but according the micro phishe, 1987 and 1996 starter motors have the same part #, so they should be the same.

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by drums1 on 09/20/07 at 04:50:21

Cool. Let's do it. I sent you a message for addy. Money order can be in the mail today. ;D

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by drums1 on 09/21/07 at 04:41:28

Wow. Thank you Slavy. I had faith that someone here would come through.
What a group of people! First a muffler, now a starter. Hopefully, I won't need anything else in the near future, but if I do, I think I can count on this group to find it, or have an extra one that they're willing to part with.
Thanks again, Slavy. I hope to be riding again real soon.

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by rokrover on 09/21/07 at 07:20:43

I confirmed the starter gets really hot sitting there behind the cylinder after a long ride so this may become an issue on older models. I guess the heat eventually softened the glue (?) holding the magnets to the casing. Sorry to hear about your problem and glad you were helped out.

Title: Re: Murphy strikes again...
Post by YonuhAdisi on 09/21/07 at 12:57:59

While I was tearing down the FireLizard's engine, I decided to go ahead and remove the starter so I could clean out the "black hole". You wouldn't believe the mess I found under there.

Word of advice, I'd be sure to periodically clean under the starter as part of the general maintenance. The road grime and dirt that gets trapped under there can contribute to overheating of the starter because air will not be able to flow up and under it. Just my opinion, but to my warped mind it seems to make sense.