New Starter?

Triumph Sprint 900, 1997.

Usually starts, battery in good condition, bubbling away quite the thing on the charger, alternator is putting 13.5 - 14v when running.

Symptom, every so often when cold the start sounds slow, like struggling to turn over. Will stop turning like it's flat battery. Wait ten seconds or so, and it fires up like a good un. Usually starts every time after that.

Lately though, I'm getting just a click from the starter, put it in gear, give it a quick bump, and then it fires away like usual. Not failing every single time though, just every so often...

I thought battery initially, but now leaning towards the starter.... What do you reckon?

Thing is, the slow turn over sometimes when cold... Its on a trickle charger, it's topped up, but sounds like it's flat. It does try and turn over, just not fast enough. Would the starter do that, or am I looking at a tired battery causing all the problems? Kind of hope so... Its cheaper than a starter!

 

Oh, also, turning all the lights on makes the engine hunt when ticking over... I know it's load v revs but again, given the alternator is working fine, is that saying battery too?

 

I actually took the battery out and put it on a charger to check its state... It was showing a full charge, and bubbling away almost as soon as I switched the charger on. Cleaned all the connections too.

I remember the problem you had with your cables @Smilinjack and that was my first thought.

I guess the voltage drop test is a good starting point. And check the voltage at the thinner lead (the exciter, is it?) while I'm at it.

Off I go...

 

Well, voltage on turning it over is dropping to 11.5v but it's a nice hot engine at the moment, so it's easy.

Also hasn't done the "I'm not doing the not starting for you trick, ya bass, if you're coming at me with a volt meter. Now do one". So back to that test when it's cold.

The exciter.... Yeah. I have one big wire heading to the starter, and that's it. I guess the small cable will be on the relay, wherever that is. Will have to look for that. Theoretically though, the small wire should show 0v, it should only be energised when you turn the key into the start position, it activates the relay which in turn energises the starter. There should also be another small wire that goes to the charge light... Not sure how that one works!

 

I think a new battery to start with, it can't hurt anyway eh?

Then price up a starter and maybe a relay.

Like I need the expense right now! Still got to look after your pride and joy.

 

Aha... You said alternator, my mind read starter. Will check if I can get at it.

 

Can't get at the damned thing without stripping things out... Can just see one big covered cable terminating in a boot going into the alternator

I will check once I start stripping things out though. Going to try a battery first.

I had a nearly new kawasaki GT550 once, it used to do this trick, put a new battery on and it never did it again. Yet it was a new battery, on a 6 month old bike... bubbling away on charge. To this day I don't know what the fault was.

 

Had to quit... Put back in shed as we have thunder and downpours. Can't fechin win.

The earth for the starter... Is it earthing through where it attaches to the engine body? Must be.. Can only see one cable...

But its looking like a systematic check over connections, to the relay too, once I can get at it again.

Be nice to have a garage!

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARROWHEAD-Starter-Motor-for-Triumph-Sprint/273917448681

What do you reckon?

Pssst.. Anybody wanna buy a kidney? Only one careless owner...

 

The rebuild/recon kit seems to be around £70....

I'd sell an arm and a leg, but I think I need those.

Land Rover starter, and solenoid, are three times the size, and are £97. Makes you wonder....

Second hand starters are anywhere between £30 and £100, untested and unknown. Not worth a punt I don't think, could be swapping one problem with any variety of different ones....