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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Where to find a starter motor
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Message started by Thaithumper on 11/01/13 at 02:06:39

Title: Where to find a starter motor
Post by Thaithumper on 11/01/13 at 02:06:39

Hi All, maybe someone can help me. I am living in Thailand and have found myself a LS400. Have had it a 8 months as a running hobby job. Recently however have been having trouble starting it. I have had the entire engine and systems checked by a well knowledged mechanic and all is fine accept the starter motor. Problem is this bike is extremely rare here in Thailand so unable to find a new one. Does anyone know where online I could find a new, second hand or rebuilt one, or if any other bike's starters are compatible to the ls400? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/01/13 at 06:34:18

Look for a starter & alternator repair place locally. If its worn brushes & contacts they can fix it up.
If that doesnt work out for you then maybe you can find one from someone here & they can ship it to you.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by old_rider on 11/02/13 at 07:20:59

What year is it?

Since the LS400 was produced for the market over where you are, your best bet is to look locally. A quick search on ebay and the parts places for Suzuki that I am used to searching does not even list a LS400.
You might have to look for a dealer over there.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by LANCER on 11/02/13 at 16:12:52

486465647964670B0 wrote:

I may have one that will work for you

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by Thaithumper on 11/04/13 at 02:01:51

Thanks all for your feedback. i have tried every big bike repair shop in the province and all say it cannot be fixed. Also as mentioned before no local dealer has any parts for this bike as it is so rare.
I do not knwo the exact year as the bike has no papers and plates since I got it. But internet tells me it was only produced from 87-89 so i presuming not mucg would have changed during those years.

Savage Beast, you think you have something for me? tell me more...please.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by LANCER on 11/04/13 at 03:03:29

7559585944595A360 wrote:

I will look tomorrow when I am back out there.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/04/13 at 06:44:52

A Bike repair shop? No.. I dont know about where you are, but we have ( theyre rare & hard to find) starter & alternator repair places, Electric motor repair places,,too,, these people replace the burned wire on an armature,,Unless the metal is busted, it will fix. The cost is the issue, now,,Can someone ship you one for less than you can get it fixed.. & then, CAN you find anyone to fix it?
Go to a few mechanic shops, NOT Bike shops, & ask if they know of an alternator & starter repair shop

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by Thaithumper on 11/05/13 at 17:45:58

Justin thanks for the tip I will check with some car mechanics and see if they have any ideas.
In the meantime, Lancer anyluck finding something for me?
Cheers.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by Thaithumper on 11/13/13 at 19:33:24

Ok all, have ran the starter past some car mechanics an electric golf buggy mechanic and Dyanamo/alternator/starter specialist, all have informed me that it cannot bebfixed but must be replaced. So this brings me back to part of the original question, anyone know where I can find a starter for an LS400 or do you know if the LS650 starter will work ok, have they changed much over the years?
Thanks.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by jcstokes on 11/13/13 at 20:38:59

Thaithumper, you will have to post pictures and measurements if you can, I'm in New Zealand and from what I have read few if any 400cc machines ever reached the USA. When your experts say it can't be repaired, do they say why? If it's a burnt out armature, it may be possible to get it rewound, but the experts may consider this is not an economic option. You really need them to say exactly what has failed so our experts can have a better idea. I have only returned to motorcycling in the last six years after a very long break. It's possible some of the 400cc machines did come here but I'm sure they were targeted at the Asian markets.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/15/13 at 05:24:09

If something can be built, it can be fixed, unless its bent. A starter motor? As long as the housing is in tolerance, shaft in tolerance, magnets not busted, itll fix,,maybe not be cost effective, BUT, If there IS no replacement, then "cost effective" loses meaning,, Burned wires? Bad brushes? Or is the armature messed up where the brushes ride? I dont think that will fix if thats the problem,
WHY is it not repairable?

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by Thaithumper on 11/15/13 at 17:48:30

Thanks all for your advice, it is now in another shop but I am expecting a similar answer back, when I get it I will post pictures, They have already replaced the brushes,but the main issues are one of the magnets in the casing has broken in half also as Justin suggested the copper part of the armature is worn down. Lets see if i get good news from current shop, will let you know. thanks.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/15/13 at 19:22:04

A busted magnet & worn commutator? Naah,, its toast,,NOW,, what are we gonna DO about it? Thats the question..

Since the engines look the same on the outside,, why wont a 650 starter work? I thot the only difference was the bore & stroke, or just the bore..

Why anyone would replace brushes on something that just busted is beyond me,,

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by Thaithumper on 11/15/13 at 21:51:39

I thought it might be gone, they will replace anything so they can charge a foreigner living in their country, they dont really care about customer satisfaction or loyalty, worry about today not about tomorrow...then they'll blame it on a language barrier....but hey there is worse places to live.

Anyway I have been looking on line at 650 starters and the shape seams to be different, espeically for example where to bolt it onto the bike. I have here a drawing of my one, as soon as i get it back i will photo and put it on.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by wambr on 11/15/13 at 22:48:01

of course as a perfect option for You is to use the starter from the Savage 400/650. starters for these models are completely identical. alternatively, you can try to pick the starter from another motorcycle similar volume of the engine. you only need to take your starter and choose suitable in the store.

Title: Re: Where to find a starter motor
Post by wambr on 11/15/13 at 22:49:08

very similar well as starters from many other models of the Suzuki....