XJ550 blows starters

Hi all,

I've rebuilt an XJ550 and it's looking good but it has blown two starters. I replaced it once and before I replace it again I'd like to make sure it's not going to go a third time.

A few things you should know,

- This bike was in very rough shape when I got it
- There were electrical gremlins to work out
- It burned out a wiring harness (smoke and the whole bit)
- After the harness was replaced it ran (really well) for about ten minutes
- The starter is definitely not working. I've taken it off and ran power directly to it. No dice.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Aaron.

 

Sounds like the starter is running engaged with the motor. Which usually happens when the contacts stick together in the solenoid due to low voltage, or the start circuit is shorted to another circuit that keeps it engaged, or you have a bad ground(look at your ground strap), or fuse box gremlins. Happy hunting.

 

Are these replacement starters just second-hand eBay or scrap yard items or have you rebuilt them?

 

Sounds like its time to open up one of the bad starters and find out what is going on in there.

 

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses.

Orange-n-Black: There is the potential for shorted circuits. I'll have another look.

bigfitz52: The replacement starter I bought was apparently rebuilt about a year before I got it but I can't be sure.

maverickbr77: That sounds like a good idea. Can you tell me what I'm looking for once I have it open?

 

Grounded or broken wires, broken or out of spec brushes, broken brush spring. Had a starter stop working on a buddies bike and it turned out to be the plastic that keeps the stud that the positive cable hooks to from grounding out was busted allowing the positive to ground straight to the case.

Its easy enough to pull it apart that its at least worth a look.

 

When you said "blows starter", I assumed you meant that the starter blew up which only happens when running engaged with the motor. So is it blown up or burned up?