Hey guys, my bikes been down for a while and after my latest attempt to fix it failed, I nearly gave up on it. I didn't really want to do that so I figured I would come to you learned folks to try and get some clarity.

It all started with a noise. Turned it on one day, and there it was. Sounded like the starter motor just kept running. Tap the solenoid, they said, so I did. The noise didn't go away. It got to the point that I figured if something was wrong, it can't be wrong if it's not in the bike. I switched out the starter motor (Which was looking pretty rough anyways), and the solenoid, but the noise is still there.

I found a hole underneath the starter motor, which can't be good, marked in the photo with an arrow, as if you couldn't see it. The guys who had the bike before me didn't treat her right, so I've been dealing with a lot.


Like I said, it sounded like the starter motor keeps running, but it's kind of an almost grinding sound. I really don't want to throw in the towel on this bike, but I'm kinda lost as to what course of action to follow. Any ideas?

I don't know the answer,need some details.
First, you could have known if the starter was still running just by touching it or putting a voltmeter on it. It's only got power to it when the solenoid is closed..
So, year model,miles, any modifications, how long have you had it, how many miles have You put on it.
Sold mine so long ago that I don't know if that hole is supposed to be there.
What is the oil like?

I would not start it again until I looked at the cam chain.
That noise you described, the cam chain tensioner laying on a spinning gear,,
Perfect mileage for a problem like that.

Well everyone, the prognosis was correct, and just in time, too. Real glad I decided to investigate the noise because this is what I found:


So dodged a bullet there. You guys probably have a ton of pictures like that. For the Versy mod, his email isn't pulling up for some reason, and I can't pm him until I've posted ten times, so I was hoping someone could help me out in the mean time by telling me if these parts are suitable to send. They're a little beat up, especially that spring.


Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction, now I just have to get the new parts, throw it together, and then get my butt back on the road.

zwspringer wrote on 05/31/15 at 12:19:56:

dang, second one this month.

I can clean up the housing, but how loose will the plunger fit inside after, can't tell you till I try.
If there's only a small grind mark on the plunger, I'd rate that as acceptable.

You should be getting an email soon.

Yeah definitely. My buddy brought his voltmeter out, everything else checks out now.
We had to splice some wires up front for the blinkers, but everything works and looks decent.

Already have some parts on order to replace some worn and broken things, probably
going to pick up a voltmeter here soon to accompany the rest of the tools I've scrounged up over the
past few months. Really looking forward to digging into this and really
messing with it.

Starting to get all my parts in, which is sweet. I have a question about
something, though. I have some Yamabond 5 liquid gasket from something
else, can I use that junk as a sealer with the new gasket, or should I use
specifically gasket sealer.

Might be a dumb question, but I would rather ask than make a dumb mistake.