Starter=traney Problem???

[DRaholic]

My starter electric starter on my DR went bad a couple of months ago. That wouldnt be related to the dry, course feeling and howling sound in quarter throttle in fifth gear would it?

[350X'inNY]

I would seriously doubt it unless something really bad happened in the starter oneway clutch or something. However, if something bad like that happened, it'd be chewing things up all the time, not just in 5th gear.

Have you checked your oil filter for any pieces of metal, or pulled the recoil/stator cover off to check things out?

When you say your starter quit, what exactly is not working? Electric motor not turning at all, ie no juice; or grinding noise w/o turning motor over??

[DRaholic]

I would seriously doubt it unless something really bad happened in the starter oneway clutch or something. However, if something bad like that happened, it'd be chewing things up all the time, not just in 5th gear.

Have you checked your oil filter for any pieces of metal, or pulled the recoil/stator cover off to check things out?

When you say your starter quit, what exactly is not working? Electric motor not turning at all, ie no juice; or grinding noise w/o turning motor over??


The e starter just makes a buzzing sound. I pulled the recoil starter and rewound the spring a few weeks ago. If you run it sometimes it sounds like there is wheele or a gear(i think its the starter gear that turns the crank) that sounds like its spinning, then it slowly stops. Idk what happen when it went bad, but the gear is off the cramk for sure!! When it first started goin bad this winter, the gear would slip on and off the crank. I didnt know much about engines then, i know a little more as to what all might be wrong with it from you guys at the boards and friends, but i still dondnt know a whole lot about engines. sorry about the story i just wrote.We r goin to take it to get it fixed, but my dad says that its goin to cost more than its worth. It was in pretty good shape when i got it. Better that the one that sold on the classifieds a while back(black and gold version is what i have) and i only got it for $$300$$. What a steal. If it wouldnt be for that trike i never wouldve found this site in the first place.

[350X'inNY]

The e starter just makes a buzzing sound. I pulled the recoil starter and rewound the spring a few weeks ago. If you run it sometimes it sounds like there is wheele or a gear(i think its the starter gear that turns the crank) that sounds like its spinning, then it slowly stops. Idk what happen when it went bad, but the gear is off the cramk for sure!! When it first started goin bad this winter, the gear would slip on and off the crank. I didnt know much about engines then, i know a little more as to what all might be wrong with it from you guys at the boards and friends, but i still dondnt know a whole lot about engines. sorry about the story i just wrote.We r goin to take it to get it fixed, but my dad says that its goin to cost more than its worth. It was in pretty good shape when i got it. Better that the one that sold on the classifieds a while back(black and gold version is what i have) and i only got it for $$300$$. What a steal. If it wouldnt be for that trike i never wouldve found this site in the first place.

OK... thanks for the update. I've had similar problems with my electric starter on my 225DX and 200ERN. I've pulled the starter motors out and tested them to be fine, but then under the load when installed in the motor, just hum.

1.) Check the brushes in the motor and the positive post.
In my 225, part of it's problem was the starter brushes. They were worn back and didn't make good contact on the armature. There is a wear limit in the Yamaha manual to reference to see if this is your problem. (5mm??? pops in my head) There are 2 brushes.... they run about $25 each from Yamaha, or you can by a set of aftermarket ones from Dennis Kirk for about $16, but have to solder them onto the stock leads. Also make sure the post that you bolt the hot wire too is insulated from the motor case. (look at schematic) I had a starter post that was put together wrong that basically let the juice go directly to the case and ground out. Remember, electricity goes to the path of least resistance.

2.) Check behind the stator cover.
There are gears and an aluminum spacer that are behind the stator cover that feed from your electric starter to the flywheel. If you are unsure what I'm talking about, and are still manual-less, go to 3ww's homepage and pull up the parts schematic for your trike from the ones I gave to Billy that are posted there. You can also go to Yamaha parts site itelf and pull up a schematic too.
Check to make sure the gears are not damaged and are installed correctly. Also note if your trike has a proper stator cover gasket, or just a form-a-gasket. I highly suggest getting the correct gasket from Yamaha or an aftermarket alternative. In my TOTM article, we ended up shaving the aluminum spacer off a hair, because whenever we put it together with form-a-gasket, it would bind the electric starter and just hum.

3.) Proper Grounding.
The performance of your starter can be improved too by improving it's grounding. Remember, there's only one wire going to the starter motor... the hot wire. The "full potential" depends upon the motor grounding to the bracket/motor/frame AND that ground going back to the tail of the frame/neg battery lead. To test this, I use one of those jump starter battery with leads. I clamp the + to the starter lead, the - to the frame, and then use the switch on my jump starter like an ignition switch. If it cranks the motor good, then I have either weak voltage/weak ground/weak battery.

Bruce

[DRaholic]

Thanks for all the info. If the mechanic we take it to doesnt know where to start, i will print this off for him.