Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

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BikeMaine
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. UPDATE

#46

Post by BikeMaine »

Good luck Brother!
Kevin
1982 GL1100A
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chewy999
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. UPDATE

#47

Post by chewy999 »

Well, what a waste of time all that was! crying1

As I posted here, https://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic ... 15#p695015, had a few learning curves to take on board. Anyway, exhausts and radiator went on easy enough, getting good at that, fitted the battery, new oil and coolant, turned the key and guess what, that's right, absolutely nothing! :(
Noticed two loose cables from the switch assembly hanging loose, so thought that may be the problem, but learnt that they were the cables for the brake light, so had to think again. Did the old screwdriver crossing the solenoid trick, and there was life, so what could be the problem?
What I discovered, and not sure why this would make a difference, is that when the switch flew apart when fitting the cables, there is a 'tapered' spring on the starter button, and I had put it in the wrong way round. Only realised this by turning it around, reassembling the switch and giving it a go.
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, THE NARROWER PART OF THE SPRING, FITS AGAINST THE REAR OF THE STARTER BUTTON
The bike started really well, considering the carbs had been disconnected and started to warm up. Next to try the gears and see what happened to the neutral light. Again you've guessed it stayed on, but for some bizarre reason, it went out when in 4th gear! I am convinced it's not electrical, but suspect there may be a problem inside the engine where the ball on the switch makes contact. That is something to look into at a later date, like never, as I want to see if adding some miles helps out.
Finally, when the bike had warmed up a bit, switch her off, went for a restart and it was the same, just wouldn't, so went for a drink to stop me ripping her to bits. After calming down, I was reading an article where someone had a similar problem, but said his problem turned out to be the solenoid. So next when I'm off, going to warm the bike up, and try the screwdriver across the terminals. The thinking behind that is if it starts that way, it is the solenoid at fault, if it doesn't, it's the starter, but a little reluctant to splash the cash on an item that I may not need.
Anyway, that is all for now, as always, thanks to all who try to help out.

anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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BikeMaine
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. UPDATE

#48

Post by BikeMaine »

If I'm understanding what you wrote, your starter wouldn't turn over once the engine was warmed up.
My guess, and only a guess is it's your starter motor.

It doesn't take much resistance in the starter to cause trouble. When the starter drags our resists to turn, it overheats the solenoid. Most everyone agrees that an original Honda starter when rebuilt, is still better than a new aftermarket starter.

Not sure what services you have available where you live, but if you can find a business that rebuilds or refurbishes starters, it's quite affordable. I took mine to a local place that rebuilds starters, alternators and generators. (He even rebuilt the original generator on my 1948 John Deere M, [6 bolt, positive ground])

Anyway, for $40 he rebuilt my starter and it works like new.
Kevin
1982 GL1100A
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BikeMaine
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it.

#49

Post by BikeMaine »

vmeyer wrote:fyi.. there is a very thorough write up with pictures on the steve saunders site on how to go through and clean up the starter if it is acting up.
I followed those instructions and it helped a lot and got me through last summer. When I took it to have it fixed a couple weeks ago, he said I had cleaned it well, but he chucked it in a lathe and polished the commutator and installed new brushes and resoldered all connections.
Kevin
1982 GL1100A
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. UPDATE

#50

Post by chewy999 »

Thanks for that, the starter I have is an after market one to start with, I took it apart to check it out but it didn't seem to bad, maybe I wasn't thorough enough. I'll see if there's any local business' for advice.


anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#51

Post by joe zxyplevo »

With the neutral switch, I've found that if you park it in gear it will unstick itself over a short time.
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#52

Post by socrace »

When the hot start issue happens, will jumper cables (from a car battery to the bike battery) start the bike? If so, might need to replace the battery. It's not that unusual for a battery to fail when hot, then recover when cooled off. If it doesn't start, use the jumper cables to isolate a bad solenoid, cables, etc. If connecting the cables directly from the car battery to the starter doesn't work, probably a bad starter. Hope this helps.
1981 Goldwing Standard - efi'd, other stuff
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#53

Post by chewy999 »

I found this article on rebuilding starter motors, http://www.mrcycles.com/page/startermotors, which says that you should be able to turn armature shaft easily by hand. It's probably hard for people to judge what is easy over a discussion like this, but I wouldn't say mine is easy to turn, so may be time to risk buying a new starter to at least compare. It may be that although mine will turn by hand, therefore will start when cold, as it heats up something inside expands causing it to fail. Can anyone confirm that their armature turns 'easily'?

Reference the neutral light, I fitted a brand new genuine switch with a new heat resistant cable, and started the bike. Went through the gears and the light stayed on apart from 4th! Because I tested the switch as explained here, https://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic ... 29#p693929, I'm convinced it is an internal problem where the shaft that makes contact with the working end of the switch. Does anyone know which item that is in the transmission? I will get out and put some miles on the bike as that may help, at least help me!

anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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robin1731
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#54

Post by robin1731 »

This on an 1100? Going by memory here as I haven't done an 1100 before. There is a pin that has to be lined up with the drum. That can go in two different ways. One is correct. One is wrong. When wrong I think the light comes on when bike is in 4th gear. I may be off on some of this but there is something like that on the 1100.

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1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#55

Post by chewy999 »

robin1731 wrote:This on an 1100? Going by memory here as I haven't done an 1100 before. There is a pin that has to be lined up with the drum. That can go in two different ways. One is correct. One is wrong. When wrong I think the light comes on when bike is in 4th gear. I may be off on some of this but there is something like that on the 1100.

.
Good suggestion Robin, but that is on the 83 model, (I think), and is at the front of the engine. The earlier models, like my 1980, just has the switch that goes into the lower right hand side of the engine and just pushes into place. It does have a hole which I believe should point downwards.

anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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BikeMaine
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#56

Post by BikeMaine »

Before my starter was rebuilt, I could barely turn it by hand. After being polished on the lathe, it spins easily in my opinion.
Kevin
1982 GL1100A
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chewy999
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Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#57

Post by chewy999 »

BikeMaine wrote:Before my starter was rebuilt, I could barely turn it by hand. After being polished on the lathe, it spins easily in my opinion.
That's good to know, have to look into that

anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
User avatar
chewy999
SUPER BIKER!!!!
SUPER BIKER!!!!
Posts: 3214
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:21 am
Location: Haddenham, Cambs, UK

Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#58

Post by chewy999 »

Today I checked the bike will still start when cold, it did. Went to see if it would start when hot, it didn't! Checked the solenoid and that was fine so ordered a new starter from David Silver with the idea of comparing the old with the new as to how easy they turn by hand. If the same then I can return it. Also dropped a couple of emails to see about getting the old one fixed, but as it's Easter weekend won't hear anything till Tuesday.

anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
User avatar
BikeMaine
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Posts: 1105
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 7:57 pm
Location: Maine, U.S.A.

Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#59

Post by BikeMaine »

Well, you've narrowed your trouble down. That's good.
Kevin
1982 GL1100A
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chewy999
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Location: Haddenham, Cambs, UK

Re: Just when I thought I'd sorted it. Latest News

#60

Post by chewy999 »

BikeMaine wrote:Well, you've narrowed your trouble down. That's good.
I think I have, still to be convinced after past experiences. Had soooo many knock backs!

anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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