Weak starter motor?

I have been noticing that when I push my starter button, it really seems quite weak. Even on a freshly charged battery it doesnt have much pep to it. In fact, it will occasionally just stop spinning and I have to push the button again. It does this quite alot actually.

Is this likely the starter itself? Is there a simple way to test it?

-Kaya

 

Mine did that to for a while until one day it was just plain dead. May want to get with Len and get a rebuilt starter. 30 year old starters aren't reliable.

 

I replaced the brushes on my starter... It's a little tricky and you should have a soldering "gun". as far as testing is concerned, i think you can pull the starter and try putting 12 volts across the terminal (FOR A SPLIT SECOND), although by pulling the "outside" cover of the starter and peeking inside you should be able to tell pretty fast what the issue is.

You can buy a rebuilt for ? dollars... I think i got new brushes for under 20 and it has no problem turning over the motor now . Could just be crud built up on the commutator now.

My picasa album has a few pictures of the starter motor brush assembly to give you some idea what you'd be up against. good luck either way.

in fact, here is a comparison between old (on the top) and new (on the left) starter brushes:

 

Just wanted to give an update.

My starter relay gave out yesterday. I started cranking the motor, and it just stopped like before. This time, however, it didnt ever turn again.

Jumper the + leads together and it turns. EXTRA healthily.

Problem established.

Anyone know if you need to use an exact replacment, or if you can just use one of the universal relays and splice the harness clip?

-Kaya

 

Hi Kaya. Are you talking about the starter solenoid? If you are, theyre a pretty common item & fairly cheap. Most of us probably have spares laying around but you want a new one, if this is the problem.

 

You can use one from a small engine repair shop (for use on lawn tractors, etc.) I had one in my 740 Seca for years and it worked out very well (alot cheaper too!)
The stock Yamaha starter solenoids aren't all that good quality anyway.