Starter spins, but the engine doesn't

[pbdavey]

Like the title said.

I took my carbs off, figuring I need to take them off to get to the starter like Cylmer's claims. However, I had a response to a previous thread referring to just removing the left engine cover. I'm ok with having my carbs off anyway since I need to clean them (6 years not really running, figured it's time). There's a lot of information in the manual that doesn't refer to what I'm doing so I wanna make sure I'm not doing something I don't need to.

I started to remove the cam chain tensioner, but should I leave that and the starter cover on and just drain the oil and remove the left engine cover (clutch side)? That should expose the starter's gear and whatever it should be engaging?

If there's more info needed or something let me know, this bike is my first major mechanical venture so I probably could use pointers! I'm all book knowledge, no practical.

[rphillips]

Haven't worked on a GS 650, but the other GS's I've worked on, First disconnect the battery cable from the battery, then take 2 screws out of the starter cover & remove it, remove the hot wire from the starter, and in the back, kind of under the cam chain tensioner there are two bolts, can't see them, but they are 10mm take them out. the starter should slide back, toward the center of the engine, then lift out. You may need to pry the starter back a little, as there is an "O" ring on the nose of the starter that may hold it a little tight

[TheCafeKid]

I actually found out today i have sort of the same problem...You say it spins but doesnt turn the engine. I had just bought my 750 bout a month ago, and it fortunately has a kickstart, so the fact that the electric start doesnt work didnt bug me, and i thought it was completely done, but jumping the wires today i was informed that my starter clutch is bad, going bad, or completely shot (probably the later) Like yours you can hear the starter spinning but it doesnt turn the engine. To fix that you'll actually need to take the STATOR cover off, and find your problem in there rather than the starter cover. Dont ask me how to fix it, cause honestly ive never done it and i dont know. LOL but thats more than likely where your problem is.

[marz]

Did You Actually

take out,or mess with it? the cam chain tensioner?

cause you really shouldnt acording to the book..'
its really a no no..self ajusting no touchy..
lest on mine any way..

[Suzuki mad]

What are you doing??????

If the starter spins and you can hear it turning over then its working. It sounds like your starter clutch has failed. That is located attached to the crankshaft under the generator cover on the left hand side of the bike. Its usually the bolts that hold the starter clutch together shear off or the three pins that work the gear have pushed through the starter gear housing.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER. LEAVE THAT ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!

If you remove the generator cover you can access the rotor and behind that is the starter clutch. You will see the starter on the upper right side, then an intermediate gear in the centre (watch out it has 2 washers on that always like to go for a walk around your engine and must be in place when you put the cover back on!!) and then on the lower left the rotor. If you can turn the starter and the gears move but not the crank its your starter clutch.

To remove that may involve a specialist Suzuki tool and a lot of heat to loosen the rotor from the crank but not an impossible job.

Suzuki mad.

[pbdavey]

Just thought I'd update this thread with solution. The intermediate gear was not seated properly. I don't know why...maybe the previous "mechanic" messed up and didn't put the cover back on properly or something, but all I did was make sure that the gear was in there right and I put the cover back on. I was then able to do a compression check: 140,140,138,132 psi.

[Suzuki mad]

They seem good figures for compression.

Get out there and ride it if all the bits are working now.

Suzuki mad

[Griffin]

I'm glad the poster fixed his problem, but this thread brought up some mythology about the cam chain tensioner.

On some of the later model GSes (specifically the four valve 550), it is part of the procedure for removing the starter to remove the cam chain tensioner. It has to be removed for clearance purposes. There is a very clear and concise procedure for removing it, then reinstalling it. There has to be, else how else would one install it after rebuilding an engine? What happens if the seal leaks like crazy and has to be replaced?

It's a simple mechanical device, it isn't some mystical talisman.