GS1000 slow cranking issue (odd)

[coletrain777]

So...
I have a yamaha warrior quad with a 1979 GS1000 engine in it. This is a quad that I traded for about a year ago. When I got it I immediately noticed that the starter turned the engine over slowly. I thought "it must be a battery or connection issue". It always started and runs well so I really never got around to diagnosing it.

Well, yesterday I brought it out of the shop for the first time in almost a year and did some cleanup on it (wiring, carb cleaning etc...), and I remembered the slow turnover issue. So I checked all connections and wiring and all is good. This quad uses a full size car battery (800 CCA and brand new) so it has MORE than enough juice to really wing the starter if everything is good. Even with a full 100% charge the starter still turns the motor over slowly. So I removed the starter from another GS1000 (known good) and swapped it in and ... same thing

So what I was wondering is:

Is there any way that the timing could be advanced enough to cause a slow cranking issue??? If not, what else could it be? Not sure where to start here as all wiring is good, starter is good, battery is good... you get the idea. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated!

[Steve]

Take the starter out, either grip it VERY tightly or clamp it down, apply 12 volts to it with jumper cables.
You might just find that it's the starter, not anything else.

Check out THIS POST from a couple months ago. Be sure to click on the picture to watch the video.

.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Check out your starter clutch.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Normk]

Disconnect the coils, remove and ground the plug wires or otherwise disable the ignition. Then crank the engine. If is still cranks slowly the cause cannot be over advanced timing.

[coletrain777]

OK... So I disconnected the coils and it cranked smoother. I removed the points cover and the plate is turned as far as it can go clockwise (screw heads are at the far left of the slots). The engine runs well, just starts extremely hard (hard cranking).

[Normk]

Since it has contact points, checking base ignition timing is a simple matter requiring a test light or volt meter. It can be done with a small light bulb and socket or a 12 volt buzzer. Any means of indicating when the points just open.

I assume that you know how to do the check as it is shown in almost every manual although I admit not to having needed to look for 50+ years.

If you need an explanation, just advise and I will walk you through unless someone beats me to the draw.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Points Timing


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Gregory]

Hi,

Points Timing


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

FYI - the points timing link is dead ....

....and couldnt find it on http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

[tkent02]

You can also use a piece of cellophane to tell you when the points are opening, just put a strip of it in between the points, pull on it slightly, turn the engine very slowly. When the cellophane pulls out the points are open. Close enough for motorcycle work.


If you have used two starters, they won't both be bad.. At least not in exactly the same way.

Cranking slowly, a big engine in a customized application... How is the starter grounded, what is the return path to the battery? A ground cable? Just the engine bolted to the frame? The return path needs to handle the same current as the power lead to the starter. Use a big fat ground cable if there is not one.

[Killer2600]

Check your starter relay, a bad connection can hide within.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

FYI - the points timing link is dead ....

....and couldnt find it on http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

Fixed it. Thanks.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff