Battery/starter motor problem finally sorted

[Avante]

So... for a long time my bike has been chewing batteries, they were getting to the point where i would have to change it once every 6 months and then recently i put a brand new battery in and it did the same within a few days.

Had it in a shop a while back for them to sort the problem with no luck , dodgy dealers i tell you :P. Basically the bike would struggle to start and then the next time i went to start it it wouldnt start at all. After testing the battery voltage, leakage , alternator , rectifier i decided to replace the rectifier as the readings didnt match what was in the service manual.

Tonight i got the new rectifier and the readings where actually very similar to the old one so the manual must be incorrect in regards to the diode circuit test values. I installed the new rectifier and to my disapointment the bike started first go and then wouldnt start again after a short running period. After that i got the shits and decided bugger it im going to pull the starter motor out.

Now this was a big thing on my behalf im not the most mechanical person around but with the service manual at my side i managed to complete the task.(god knows why they make it so hard to get too)

Apon opening up the starter motor i found 2 of the perminant magnets attached to the stator walls had detached and moved and there was also a resonable amount of broken magnet floating around making it very difficult to turn the armature.

So long story short problem that has been bugging me for ages will finally get fixed once i get a new starter motor the the busa should run a treat again

[big kev]

CONGRATS MATE thats good info for all other riders if that problem ever arises

cheers mate

[Gnarbunkle99]

Some of them seem to be glued in place very poorly, no reason why field magnets should let go.

[Landmine]

Its very disappointing to read experience like this. Appears in dealer servicing we don't get experienced professionals working on our motorcycles. Unfortunately a lot of experience is lost when people move through the industry seeking higher wages. Some times we would be better to pay a little more to retain experience in industry, Problem of small work shops where there is limited number of mechanics to provide support in solving problems. Perfect example where forums such as this are invaluable for knowledge sharing.
Great to see you have solved problem.

[Avante]

$825 for a new starter motor .... ouch

[Gnarbunkle99]

Man that hurts.

[Avante]

The annoying part is that you can buy every part seperatly on the starter motor bar the armature and the stator and i need the stator lol

[Throwdown!]

The annoying part is that you can buy every part seperatly on the starter motor bar the armature and the stator and i need the stator lol

I get all my parts from the wreckers. There are plenty of people out there throwing their busas down the street and donating parts that have only done a few thousand kms. No diagnostics needed when you can just replace with a load of stuff from a younger bike - keep the good parts for the future. Add workshop labour and you're at least doing the job at half price.

POSSIBLE WARNING:
I replaced my recitifier, stator, burnt out wiring and ( brand new) battery for about $800. I replaced the lot because the mechanic said my recitifier was probably buggered, but there was no way to tell if the stator knackered the recitifier or vice versa. I'm no mechanic but if he's right your new stator could be at risk if your recitifier is a bit sus, as your brand new stator is hooking up to a 10 year old recitifier.

[Pommie]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-START...ccessories



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-07-S...ccessories

Hope that helps. Unfortuantely I find buying anything for the Busa here costs at least double if not more than buying from overseas.