82 GS450L: Starter replacement/rebuild?

[Guest]

So my bike struggles to turn over more than maybe once, and my installed voltometer showed big voltage drops when trying to start. So I checked all my connections, and took the starter out.

When I turned the shaft of the starter over with some pliers, it grinded inside. So then I took it apart, and the big block magnets on the outer casing are disintigrating - possibly due to the previous owner who told me he rebuilt the starter and "It was challenging".

Are there any ways to revive my starter, or am I stuck paying $70ish for a used one/$190 for a rebuilt one? I am super, crazy broke currently, so I'll be push starting for a while (the bike is also my main commuter vehicle).

Thanks!

 

[Redman]

Yah. Buying a used salvage starter can be good or not good.

cor a rebuilt starter, have you checked Stocker Starters ? Should be better price than what you said (but then again, has been a while since I got one)

 

[bwringer]

There are only a few different starter designs found in the GS engines. It may help you find a cheaper replacement on fleaBay or in a local moto junkyard if you can do some cross-referencing, and thus expand your search.

It looks like the same starter is compatible with all the 1980+ GS300, GS450, and GS650G and GS650GL models (but not the GS650E).

There's a GS650G starter for $35 shipped on fleaBay right now, for example.

Used is always a little bit of a crapshoot, but the odds with starters are actually pretty good if someone hasn't monkeyed with them, as with yours.


Stocker's doesn't have any rebuilds in stock, and they're pretty expensive.


Or, if you have more time than money, maybe try cleaning out the crud in your starter, reassembling it correctly and see if you can get it to work better. It was sort of working, so the windings can't be too badly damaged.

Stocker's does have a repair kit with the bushings and bearings and brushes and seals needed for $29.95:
http://www.stockers.com/index.php?dt=RBK-4S

 

[Guest]

Hey, thanks! Having that complete list was a life saver - I can justify $35 for a probably working (or if not, probably not as FUBARd as mine) starter.

I really appreciate it! Thank you!