Starter motor issue? or is it?

[Racey Rider]

Hi Guys. I've got a issue that just started this morning. RGV250 electric start model.
When starting the bike, I heard a different sound coming from the motor area. Having no time to really check things, I carried on riding to work, hoping said noise would go away (as you do).

Noise was still there on arrival. But when I turned the key off, the motor kept trying to run. It seemed the starter motor was trying to keep turning it over. The kill switch did nothing to stop this.
The motor slowly came to a halt after about 6-8 seconds. But I could tell the stater was still engaging ,trying, but without it's full power to turn the motor over.

I quickly undid the neg lead off the battery to prevent burnout of the S/M.

So now, if I touch that neg wire to the battery termanal, with no key in the ignition, the S/M starts turning the motor over.
What things should I be checking?

I have had a coil problem lately, that has slowly got worse cutting out when hot. But in the last to days going to work, that coil issue hasn't showed up. I'm wondering if that has now caused a problem in my CDI box.


I'm hoping someone will come up with a easy fix answer first before I have to go down that CDI replacement path.

Thanks.
Racey.

Trying a different colour blue on the harsh black background of the work computer.

[CookMySock]

I doubt it will be the CDI. Recharge the battery and pull the "start" wire (the smallest one) off the stater solenoid, and try touching the battery lead back to the terminal.

If the starter engages, the solenoid will be jammed on. Dissasemble and service it, or replace it.

If the starter does not engage, then touch the small wire you pulled off onto its' contact and see if it engages. If it does, you have a wiring fault from the starter switch.


Steve

[Racey Rider]

Thanks for the help I will try that tonight.
I have removed the starter motor relay, and that stop the issue for now.
Bump started the bike, and all seems ok.
will see what happens when I put a new relay in.

Cheers.
Racey

[imdying]

That's what you get for having one of those new fangled 23s! Hope you're still loving it

[onearmedbandit]

Whatever the issue is I want to see pics of the 23!!!

[Racey Rider]

Strange happenings.
On inspection of the starter relay, I note a small amount of melting of the plastic around one of the pins.

This morning rather than bump start the bike, I thought I would stick the relay back in just long enough to start the bike then remove it.
But on doing this, I found the problem had stopped. The bike started off the button - no drama. No funny noises. Bike turned off fine. Everything worked fine. I left the relay in - road to work - home again - no problem.

Coil issue is now hardly noticable under road riding conditions.
Whats going on .... I don't know.
Have ordered a spare coil, and will see what happens when I take the bike to the track next weekend.

[CookMySock]

Don't trust it! You got away with it one time - you might not next time. It will destroy the starter motor and starter clutch, and fry lots of wiring and your stator as well.

Don't do it. Pull it apart and see whats up.

Steve

[SS90]

Don't trust it! You got away with it one time - you might not next time. It will destroy the starter motor and starter clutch, and fry lots of wiring and your stator as well.

Don't do it. Pull it apart and see whats up.

Steve

I normally champion the idea of fixing rather than replacing, but Japanese starter relays are a sealed unit, and cannot be pulled apart and put back together, let alone pulled apart, repaired, and put back together!

Shit, a new after market one will only cost $30, and one from a wrecker (doesn't need to be from an electric start RGV, there are really only 2 types, an dmost any Jap bike will be the same) a bit less.

Like Steve said, DO NOT PUT IT BACK ON, already your starter motor and starter clutch will have been under too much strain, and any more is crazy.

[Ixion]

Yep, solenoids sticking on causing the motor to run constantly. Notorious problem with Jap bikes because of their crappy underspecced electrics ( as opposed to Italian bikes where the reverse occurs ). I've lost track of how many I've replaced over the years. It willl be intermittent at first , will appear to fix itself if left to sitvand cool down, but it will get steadily worse and more frequent. You run a really major risk of burning out the motor and also causing major mechanical damage.

Fortunately the fix is real easy. Get to Supercheap and buy a truck starter solenoid for about twenty bucks . A solenoid is a solenoid, more or less, and the heavy duty unit will never fail.

[CookMySock]

Get to Supercheap and buy a truck starter solenoid for about twenty bucks . A solenoid is a solenoid, more or less, and the heavy duty unit will never fail.

Agreed, but I have one fail (two years old). Replaced it again and all good so far. It failed open (wouldn't close) so nothing disastrous.

Steve