How Take Out The Starter Motor On A Cbr?

E L N I N O · June 7, 2010

hi,

i couldnt use my bike for couple of months and last weekend i tried to start it but failed. the problem boiled down to be a starter motor issue.

here are the facts:

when i hit the ignition switch i can hear the relay going thru a series of 'tak tak' sounds.

so guessed the battery is weak and tried jump starting from the car. the motor slowly started rotating but was trying in vain. jumper cables started to get very hot.

tried directly powering the motor by-passing the relay. same story.

checked the cable from the relay to the motor. the grounding cable. everything is fine.

then to make sure the engine isnt seized, i tried bump starting and woah it started after couple of tries!

so started stripping out the bike to get hands on the starter. removed the carbs and the starter is there only fixed by two #10 bolts. removed those but its just stuck there. tried prying with a screw driver but no luck. as of the images i saw on the net this starter's ends has an oil seal kind of thing. so i suppose it is stuck with the block. or may be there is another few bolts fixed from the alternator end???

will i need to remove the alternator cover to get out the starter motor? im pretty scared to do that as i might run the risk of damaging the gaskets and stuff. also might run into an oil spill? some posts on the net says there is oil inside that chamber! any ideas guys? may be im not trying hard enuf to pull the motor? anyway it shakes a little bit like a tooth but not enuf to come out easily. i tried hammering it few times as well pls help.

Edited June 7, 2010 by E L N I N O

harshansenadhir · June 7, 2010

E L N I N O said:
hi,
i couldnt use my bike for couple of months and last weekend i tried to start it but failed. the problem boiled down to be a starter motor issue.

here are the facts:

when i hit the ignition switch i can hear the relay going thru a series of 'tak tak' sounds.

so guessed the battery is weak and tried jump starting from the car. the motor slowly started rotating but was trying in vain. jumper cables started to get very hot.

tried directly powering the motor by-passing the relay. same story.

checked the cable from the relay to the motor. the grounding cable. everything is fine.

then to make sure the engine isnt seized, i tried bump starting and woah it started after couple of tries!

so started stripping out the bike to get hands on the starter. removed the carbs and the starter is there only fixed by two #10 bolts. removed those but its just stuck there. tried prying with a screw driver but no luck. as of the images i saw on the net this starter's ends has an oil seal kind of thing. so i suppose it is stuck with the block. or may be there is another few bolts fixed from the alternator end???

will i need to remove the alternator cover to get out the starter motor? im pretty scared to do that as i might run the risk of damaging the gaskets and stuff. also might run into an oil spill? some posts on the net says there is oil inside that chamber! any ideas guys? may be im not trying hard enuf to pull the motor? anyway it shakes a little bit like a tooth but not enuf to come out easily. i tried hammering it few times as well pls help.

went through the same trying to pull out the starter of Honda Super Cub C90. There was a lock sort of a thing from the other side (from the shaft side) of the starter motor which prevented it just pulling after undoing the said bolts. Don't apply force until you're hundred percent sure of what you're doing and there's no any securing bolts, clips or locks anywhere.

Ripper · June 7, 2010

machang are you 100% if this a bad starter motor issue???

I know you've done a full check up scene but i kinda had a similar situ on my XR after letting it sit in the garage for months.

My battery had died...tried to fireup off the car with no joy...tried the jump start and it worked...

starter was turning slowly as you said and could hear the clicker of the relay...

Then...I replaced my battery...did a full DIY service at home even cleaning up the wiring...and she fired right up!

i cant really say what was wrong...but was a happy camper knowing i didn't have to buy a new electric leg

the XR too comes only with an electric leg without a kicker

just a thought!

If the motor is turning...even slowly...it's working isn't it!

harshansenadhir · June 7, 2010

Ripper said:
If the motor is turning...even slowly...it's working isn't it!

slowly running could be due to bad brushes as well if not for the electric supply. Also one point is to check the relay for burnt out contact points.

Ripper · June 7, 2010

harshansenadhir said:
slowly running could be due to bad brushes as well if not for the electric supply. Also one point is to check the relay for burnt out contact points.

maybe lack of use might make more oxidation to from on contact points and brushes and stuff

just a thought

E L N I N O · June 7, 2010

Ripper said:
maybe lack of use might make more oxidation to from on contact points and brushes and stuff
just a thought

thx machan for quick replies. actually i think its da motor as harshan said coz to be sure i gave power off the jumper directly to the motor itself i mean not to the relay point, straight to the positive contact which is sitting on the motor. still it is turning slow. i have jump started it before and da motor runs like hell when powered via da car.

my main worry is if i remove the cover on the left side (alternator cover), will oil spill? on the otherhand what use help will it do to remove the motor? will go back home today and try to pull it out one more time. my other worry is, if its this hard to get out, how da hell im suppose to put it back in???!

Ripper · June 7, 2010

E L N I N O said:
thx machan for quick replies. actually i think its da motor as harshan said coz to be sure i gave power off the jumper directly to the motor itself i mean not to the relay point, straight to the positive contact which is sitting on the motor. still it is turning slow. i have jump started it before and da motor runs like hell when powered via da car.
my main worry is if i remove the cover on the left side (alternator cover), will oil spill? on the otherhand what use help will it do to remove the motor? will go back home today and try to pull it out one more time. my other worry is, if its this hard to get out, how da hell im suppose to put it back in???!

can't comment on the cibbie motor machang cos i've not really meddled with one before....

i've played with my XR250 motor and and older MTX200 and in both those engine,,,removing the alternator cover wont get you into the main engine parts....no oil etc...

you should only see the rotor and the coil packs on the cover itself!

But...i'd doubt that's going to help you cos normally...you don't gain any access to engine internals via the alternator over!

you gotta split the case for that...

maybe you can access the gearing related stuff via the clutch cover side but that means new oil..new gasket etc...

why don't you check with a garage dude or somebody about removing the starter motor...

chances are...there some little trick you have to do in order to rid yourself of all this trouble because...it can't be that tough

E L N I N O · June 7, 2010

Ripper said:
can't comment on the cibbie motor machang cos i've not really meddled with one before....
i've played with my XR250 motor and and older MTX200 and in both those engine,,,removing the alternator cover wont get you into the main engine parts....no oil etc...

you should only see the rotor and the coil packs on the cover itself!

But...i'd doubt that's going to help you cos normally...you don't gain any access to engine internals via the alternator over!

you gotta split the case for that...

maybe you can access the gearing related stuff via the clutch cover side but that means new oil..new gasket etc...

why don't you check with a garage dude or somebody about removing the starter motor...

chances are...there some little trick you have to do in order to rid yourself of all this trouble because...it can't be that tough

machan found this pic on da net. im not quite sure its a cbr 250 but looks quite a lot alike. my set up also looked da same have to double chk once i go home - the top small gear to the right is da starter motor spindle. so if i remove da cover it from this end i can put some thattu on it so it'll loosen out to the other site neda? and machan i only see oil everywhere. where are the coils??? may be they are attached to the cover? (or may be this is a wrong image altogether!)

talking abt the machanics, ive had lot of bad experiences machan so decided to do everythin myself. ive found copper wires inside carbs, rubber washers inside spark plug holes... this n that.... very unprofessional. other thing is if i turn to a mechanic at dis stage he'll probably try to rip me apart saying uve done dis so have to replace that n u no hw it goes...

Ripper · June 7, 2010

E L N I N O said:
machan found this pic on da net. im not quite sure its a cbr 250 but looks quite a lot alike. my set up also looked da same have to double chk once i go home - the top small gear to the right is da starter motor spindle. so if i remove da cover it from this end i can put some thattu on it so it'll loosen out to the other site neda? and machan i only see oil everywhere. where are the coils??? may be they are attached to the cover? (or may be this is a wrong image altogether!)
talking abt the machanics, ive had lot of bad experiences machan so decided to do everythin myself. ive found copper wires inside carbs, rubber washers inside spark plug holes... this n that.... very unprofessional. other thing is if i turn to a mechanic at dis stage he'll probably try to rip me apart saying uve done dis so have to replace that n u no hw it goes...

well at least on my bikes...the coils were attached to the alternator cover!

http://www.4strokes.com/tech/honda/brpstatr.asp

planning on doing just that to my xr when i get hold of a spare stator...but that's not the point here

I'm not really sure how your motor is set up machang....I have a haynes manual for my bike will check it up and see if i can figure out how my starter motor can be removed... it would be easy if you can find a factory workshop manual for your bike.. that should defa have info on this..

and yeah...know what you mean about mechanics.

i too bought haynes manuals for both the car and the bikes...a decent tool kit that still needs a lot of improvement and a set of big balls

try to do fair bit of work myself now...

what really pisses me off with mechanics is that even after a long wait, high bills and what not...they almost always doesn't fix things the first go I busted two valves on my XR after a heavy revving session and though it was replaced...oil is seeping pass the valves into the chamber making the 4 stroker smoke. Now that moron wants me to replace the piston cos it smokes even when the bike has enough compression to climb a tree if i can hold onto the handle bars

wish i had time to go to some mechanical college or something that teaches you basic engine repair...

kumudug · June 8, 2010

Check out this link. According to that the motor should come out and when it does the sprocket falls off so you need to remove the right side crank case cover to replace the starter motor. In your case I guess the starting sprocket is a bit tightly bound. Anyway try to find the gasket or buy some packing sheet and be ready to make you own gasket.

http://www.dansmc.com/electric_starters.htm

harshansenadhir · June 8, 2010

kumudug said:
Check out this link. According to that the motor should come out and when it does the sprocket falls off so you need to remove the right side crank case cover to replace the starter motor. In your case I guess the starting sprocket is a bit tightly bound. Anyway try to find the gasket or buy some packing sheet and be ready to make you own gasket.
http://www.dansmc.com/electric_starters.htm

if this is the set up definitely it'll have a lock securing the wheel as I told you in the previous reply. Something like this. So better you remove the other panel and get yourself ready for a gasket change.

E L N I N O · June 8, 2010

kumudug said:
Check out this link. According to that the motor should come out and when it does the sprocket falls off so you need to remove the right side crank case cover to replace the starter motor. In your case I guess the starting sprocket is a bit tightly bound. Anyway try to find the gasket or buy some packing sheet and be ready to make you own gasket.
http://www.dansmc.com/electric_starters.htm

hi machan this link is very useful. ya it seems i have to go with the cover removal. cudnt do anything wit da byk yesterday. i'll try it 2nite. wil keep u updated.

MkX · June 8, 2010

Ripper said:
machang are you 100% if this a bad starter motor issue???
I know you've done a full check up scene but i kinda had a similar situ on my XR after letting it sit in the garage for months.

My battery had died...tried to fireup off the car with no joy...tried the jump start and it worked...

starter was turning slowly as you said and could hear the clicker of the relay...

Then...I replaced my battery...did a full DIY service at home even cleaning up the wiring...and she fired right up!

i cant really say what was wrong...but was a happy camper knowing i didn't have to buy a new electric leg

the XR too comes only with an electric leg without a kicker

just a thought!

If the motor is turning...even slowly...it's working isn't it!

How did you supply the power to motor directly? did you use the same battery or with new battery. Even I feel first thing to be sure is battery has full charge (not only the voltage, but it can give the high current at starting point). AFAIK this is common thing in self start bikes when you dint run for couple of months. And the culprit is bad battery / contacts in most of the cases.

kumudug · June 8, 2010

Did you check the battery properly. You said you jump started from your car. Did you use the car battery when you tried to give direct supply to the motor. If not you should check the battery.

Even though the battery has the voltage at first you need to check the voltage when the load is applied. For the battery to be good it has to have at least 10V when load is applied.

Also keep us updated. There is no saying when this can happen to one of us too.

Also I totally agree with you about mechanics. Most of those guys are just makabas guys. I also don't let anyone touch my bike or car. Specially not my bike. Hope you get your problem rectified soon.

And about that link (Dan's Motorcycle Repair - http://www.dansmc.com/ ) I think this "Dan" is the god for us people who wanna DIY stuff in our bikes.

Edited June 8, 2010 by kumudug