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Cleaned and reinstalled starter motor ? cam chain tensioner messed up?

  • Thread starter Thread starter johnnykakes
  • Start date Start date
J

johnnykakes

Guest
Hi, so I had to take my starter motor out to clean it. Works great now, except now my bike won't start. I'm hoping neither of these things happened:

a) the cam chain tensioner (which I had to remove to get the starter motor out) was reinstalled improperly and is out of whack or
b) there's a chain connected to the starter motor, and I need to take the cover off to reinstall it.

I can't even bump start it now, feels totally different like something in the drivetrain is out of whack, and when I hit the ignition the starter motor just cranks with no sign of the engine turning over. all fuel sources are solid. Pretty bummed so any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance
 
Just curious, how did you remove and especially how did you reinstall the tensioner?
 
tkent02 said:
Just curious, how did you remove and especially how did you reinstall the tensioner?
Click to expand...

Just took the 2 bolts out, pulled the tensioner out, then put it back in after installing the starter motor and screwed the 2 bolts back in. Didn't adjust anything on the tensioner itself


allojohn said:
What bike? What year? Where are you?
And....welcome to the forum!
Click to expand...


Ahh sorry – forgot the basics. 1980 Suzuki GS550E. Brooklyn NY

And thanks!
 
motor didn't get turned with tensioner out did it?

did you remove the left side case cover on the motor while you were changing the starter? i'm not sure but i think the gear on the starter could fall out of place when the starter is pulled out....
 
Eli69 said:
motor didn't get turned with tensioner out did it?

did you remove the left side case cover on the motor while you were changing the starter? i'm not sure but i think the gear on the starter could fall out of place when the starter is pulled out....
Click to expand...


I'm pretty sure I put it back in before I moved the bike.

I didn't take the case off... should I try this? sorta apprehensive because the screws are probably in there tight and I'll probably strip the heads.
 
i had forgotten exactly how the starter setup was inside the left cover area. the gears don't seem to be able to move when the starter is pulled out so you should be good there. so right now i got nothin.
 
you didn't have to force the starter back in at all? it might have taken a bit of wiggling but should have dropped right in eventually.
 
Eli69 said:
you didn't have to force the starter back in at all? it might have taken a bit of wiggling but should have dropped right in eventually.
Click to expand...

no, it felt like it fit back in pretty easily
 
"Just took the 2 bolts out, pulled the tensioner out, then put it back in after installing the starter motor and screwed the 2 bolts back in. Didn't adjust anything on the tensioner itself"

this is not the right way to remove the tensioner (thoughit might have been froze up anyways) go here, follow the right way.... The tensioner likely auto adjusted itself upon removal. You were supposed to lock the plunger in place before removal

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/storagecliff/images/engine_odds-n-ends.html#A05

When you cleaned starter motor, did you take brushes out? To be safe ,best to remove stator cover and make sure starter motor spins counterclockwise looking at it
 
did this bike run before? sounds like starter clutch problems but if you can't push start it there may be more to it.

has this bike had basic maintenance stuff caught up? carbs dipped, intake seals replaced, carbs synced, valves adjusted? all these things usually need to be done on these old bikes. info is all on this site.
 
As stated above, you didn't do the cam chain tensioner R/R correctly. If you installed it without locking it down first, then it's extended too far out and likely has moved the cams out of whack. You're probably looking at removing the tensioner again and doing a reinstall. You should verify cam position as well since it's likely you didn't have it at top dead center on cylinders 1-4 so the cam may have moved. Hopefully you didn't damage the tensioner by installing it fully extended.

When you tried to start the engine did the starter motor turn the engine over?
 
Eli69 said:
did this bike run before? sounds like starter clutch problems but if you can't push start it there may be more to it.

has this bike had basic maintenance stuff caught up? carbs dipped, intake seals replaced, carbs synced, valves adjusted? all these things usually need to be done on these old bikes. info is all on this site.
Click to expand...


it ran before, was able to bump start no problem. Only issue was the starter commutator being fully crudded up but now it works fine. My worry is that tom is right and that I messed the cam chain tensioner up
 
First thing I would do is pull the plugs and check the base timing, If you feel any resistance when turning it over by hand then Stop right away.

Cams most likely have jumped a tooth, hopefully you didn't bend a valve,
 
If he did jump cam timing and tried to start it by starter motor and bump starting it, then the valves may very well already be bent. I'd pull the cam cover and verify timing. If it's off, then reset the cams and do a compression check.
 
JTGS850GL said:
If he did jump cam timing and tried to start it by starter motor and bump starting it, then the valves may very well already be bent. I'd pull the cam cover and verify timing. If it's off, then reset the cams and do a compression check.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the help.


i can't believe it was designed such that you need to pull the tensioner in order to get at the starter motor.
 
johnnykakes said:
Thanks for the help.


i can't believe it was designed such that you need to pull the tensioner in order to get at the starter motor.
Click to expand...

The first thing you need before working on a bike is either a factory service manual, or instructions pertaining to the particular procedure you are performing. Don't ASSume anything.
 
Or just go with the bigger hammer, and then put it on Craigslist, "Ran when parked!"
 
JJ said:
The first thing you need before working on a bike is either a factory service manual, or instructions pertaining to the particular procedure you are performing. Don't ASSume anything.
Click to expand...


Woulda been great but I scoured everywhere, even the manual, and didn't find anything about removing the starter motor on a 550
 
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