GS550ES will not start when hot help

[reem98]

I am now really confused as to why my bike is working again. As I said earlier I was having trouble starting the bike, and it just happened suddenly so I figured it was the starter itself. So I pulled it and put in a good used one. Well it did the same thing (cranking very slowly) even while being jumped from a car battery. So i figured it had to be a connection issue so I put an extra 6 gauge gound wire directly to the starter case to the battery. And I replaced the starter relay and ran an extra 10 gauge wire from the relay to the starter + just incase the stock wire was breakin down.
When I went to start it up with this setup it still turned over really slow. So next I pulled the kill switch cause I noticed a V drop across it cleaned it up good and the start button. I also pulled the ignition (key) assembly and cleaned all its contacts. I put it all back together and it still did the same thing starting really slow like something was binding in the motor...but I could easily turn it over with a wrench on the alternator assembly so that didn't make sense to me.
Then to top it off I was trying to start it over and over got frustrated so I walked away and after a 20 min break I came back and it starts spinning at the correct speed, and I could start it again.
And so far it starts right up.
Is there some way the starter gears/clutch could bind up due to heat or something???

[550ERAT]

I am having the exact same problem. EXACTLY...... I am going to replace the r/r and possibly the solenoid too. Duanage recommended not running bike until new r/r is on so I don't fry the stator. I am also going to do the stator tests again to see if there is a problem there. I replaced the starter with a brand new one, checked all the connections and no change. Starts when cold, won't when hot.

[duaneage]

Test the stator out first then contact me if the RR is suspect.

[p_s]

Did you measure the voltage on the positive side of the coils? Mine was low on my GS550ES so I wired in a relay. Then at least when my bike died and wouldn't start I didn't have to guess what the problem was--it was the relay of course. (Then I sucked it up and bought a new $100 ignition switch.)

[jay66]

I had that problem with my 1100, the battery slowly went dead on me and then wouldn't start when hot. It turned out to be coroded conections by the battery box.

[reem98]

Ok now this really has me annoyed. I have been running the bike with no problems for the past 3 weeks or so. Yesterday I get home turn it off let it sit for about 20 min come back it spins over fine for about 3 sec and then it's like it hits a wall. The starter slows to almost a stop and the lights dim way down. What could cause an almost instantaneous major current draw in the middle of starting. The bike runs fine cause I can pop the clutch and cruise around, but something seems to be really loading down the electrical system during starting. Last time this issue just went away...for the time being...but it's back.
Please help with any ideas I'm dumbfounded.

[TheCafeKid]

Reem, as many have mentioned before, there are generally only a few common things that relate to your problem.

1. Bad electrical or ground connections. Inspect all of them for corrosion, clean, grease and reassemble. Bad connections cause heat build up, especially when running the bike. Heat build up leads to load passing issues.

2. Bad starter clutch. Generally, this is accompanied with a bunch of clatter or racket that you would notice. I dont think this is your problem.

3. Starter motor going bad. Brushes wearing out. Replace the starter motor.

4. Charging system is weak, therefore the battery is weak. Check the voltage at off, and also in the idle possition. Also, it might help to see what the voltage drops to when cranking the starter. If your battery is lower than 12.4 (should really be higher than that honestly) at idle, you have a charging problem of some sort... If this is the case, refer to the stator papers.

hope this helps. The only real way to track it down is to test things. Intermitant issues are troublesome to track down, and even harder to diagnose, especially from a computer. The only way you'll find and eliminate is to get out there and check it out for yourself. Everyone here has given some ideas as to the cause, but its hard to nail it down without being there. If left, it will only continue to get worse, so the sooner the better! Good Luck!!

[Calvin Blackmore]

Ok now this really has me annoyed. I have been running the bike with no problems for the past 3 weeks or so. Yesterday I get home turn it off let it sit for about 20 min come back it spins over fine for about 3 sec and then it's like it hits a wall. The starter slows to almost a stop and the lights dim way down. What could cause an almost instantaneous major current draw in the middle of starting. The bike runs fine cause I can pop the clutch and cruise around, but something seems to be really loading down the electrical system during starting. Last time this issue just went away...for the time being...but it's back.
Please help with any ideas I'm dumbfounded.

Hmmm
just wondering did you test this ebay starter as well as the old one while off the bike?

If these are hooked up to a good battery they will spin like a bastard.
slowly but with a surprising amount of torque considering the size of the unit.

I think you need to clean all the contacts in the circuit for the starting system. There are several switched points that should be addressed the most important of which is likely the ground.

Have you downloaded the manual? it is available form BassCliff's site I think.

With the contacts all clean and the starter known to be spinning at the like a bastard level whilst off the bike you can then jump the battery with a car battery ( not a high amp charger and not off a running vehicle )

if its still dragging with a good battery known good starter and clean electrical contacts then it could be the starter clutch ( though I have never seen anyone on this site report or complain of this arising )
or it could be fuel boiling off out of the float bowls which would necessitate settign the petcock to prime before attempting to start the bike.

the issue you have would beheavily exacerbated by a weakened charging system so a test of the rectifier battery and stator is in order.

[reem98]

Thanks for the info guys, I do have the manual so I'm good there. Yes, i did try spining the starter by itself and it spun fine and it worked in the bike for 3 weeks my old starter did the same thing in this bike so now I don't think it is the starter cause they both did the exact same thing.
as far as power and ground i've replaced the starter seloniod and cleaned all the contacts and doubled up both the ground and power connections. I actually have a ground runnin right to the starter base.
before when I had this problem I would spin the starter without the transfer gear in between the starter and the starter clutch(located on the crankshaft) and the starter would spin fine. As soon as I put the starter clutch back in the equation it would spin very slow.. then without any reason it began to spin up to speed again and did for 3 weeks untill now.
the charging system seems good it's makin 13.54 volts at idle
Does anyone know how I might be able to tell if it's the starter clutch and why it would turn hard I would think it would just spin free.
Thanks guys

[Headphase]

I had the same problem. Whenever I went for a ride, I had to stop on a hill, cos it was lucky dip whether the starter would turn quickly enough to do anything.

Check your earths. Clean the ends of the starter brushes with a wee bit of sandpaper, and clean where the starter mounts onto the engine.

Since I did those the bike starts fine, hot or cold.

[reem98]

I just want to make sure if my problem was my starter gear and that I would most likely hear some kind of noise from that area.

[TheCafeKid]

If it were your starter clutch, primary or secondary starter gear, or the starter motor itself, you'd hear some pretty loud racket coming from the stator cover area. I agree with checking your grounds, pulling them off and cleaning them up with a wire brush and some dielectric grease. If you DO hear any clacking or ticking or what not coming from the stator cover area, order a stator gasket, pull the cover off and have a look. The starter clutch is a common problem on the BIG GSs but i havent read any complaints about them on the 550s. The 750s sometimes have problems as well.

[GQROD]

Thanks for the info guys, I do have the manual so I'm good there. Yes, i did try spining the starter by itself and it spun fine and it worked in the bike for 3 weeks my old starter did the same thing in this bike so now I don't think it is the starter cause they both did the exact same thing.
as far as power and ground i've replaced the starter seloniod and cleaned all the contacts and doubled up both the ground and power connections. I actually have a ground runnin right to the starter base.
before when I had this problem I would spin the starter without the transfer gear in between the starter and the starter clutch(located on the crankshaft) and the starter would spin fine. As soon as I put the starter clutch back in the equation it would spin very slow.. then without any reason it began to spin up to speed again and did for 3 weeks untill now.
the charging system seems good it's makin 13.54 volts at idle
Does anyone know how I might be able to tell if it's the starter clutch and why it would turn hard I would think it would just spin free.
Thanks guys

Providing everything else has been found good.

Have you done a load test on your battery?

It may show fully charged and have the correct electrolyte level tested with a syringe type tester but if under load the battery is weak it will not have enough cold cranking amps to turn over the starter.

Take it to auto zone and they will test it for free.

Make sure the ebay starter is cleaned or rebuilt to rule out any more problems with this starter. It could be both starters were bad.

[reem98]

Thanks guys for all your help so far.
I pulled the starter out again cleaned everything internaly in the starter. I wire brushed all the the connections where the bolts meet the gearbox, and I used new mounting bolts. I put it back together and when I when to start it I had the same problem it would not turn the bike over at all. So I pulled the intermetiant gear between the starter and the starter gear, and spun the starter by itself. It spun up and then the pitch of the starter went up and the speed increased. I put it back together and now it starts fine.
Why would the starter just start working when all I was doin was letting is spin free?

[GQROD]

Perhaps the bearings needed grease to be evenly distributed?

I just replaced my starter twice, wow these things are wierd on these bikes and will having you scracthing your head for awile then miraculously it works.