• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

GS 300 continually stripping starter motor??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Guest
Hi all, I own a 1983 Suzuki GS300L. The person I bought it from seems to have rode it for 35+ years with no issues, but alas.

I rode it daily for about two months, but go to warm it up one morning and it revs high, spits out a ton of white smoke and began to leak gas. Turned it off immediately and let it sit. Started it the next day with a lot of engine noise, so I took it in. It was diagnosed as a faulty starter motor. Mechanic replaced the reduction gear, sprag clutch assy, stator cover gasket and starter motor.

Got it home after over two months in the shop and rode it just once. Went to start it last week and it sounded like a bag of aluminum cans falling down a flight of stairs and it was a total no start; also noticed a small amount of leaking gas. Took it back for warrantied work and was told it was the teeth of the starter motor totally worn down AGAIN.

Mechanic is *@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$ed and says it's not his fault, must be a defect of the bike, but I feel like I'm getting taken for a ride here. He will warranty his work but is telling me that this must be a GS300 issue that will continue happening.

Have you guys ever heard of anything like this? Any help?
 
So it sounds like I'm getting ripped off, here? Any ideas on what it might actually be?

I did see the starter motor myself the first time it went bad and to be fair, the teeth were pretty chewed up.
 
The first issue, increased revs, smoke and leaking fuel, could point to a problem with the fuel cock and or carburettor float valves.
Where was the fuel leaking from? If fuel is leaking and gets into the sump you will notice a marked increase in the oil level.
Has anyone eliminated the possibility that the starter solenoid is sticking on. That will make a lot of weird noise and generally ends badly for the starter.
At least he is accepting he screwed up but a latent defect in the GS300 is a new one on me.
 
Not sure it will even fit but there are two gear teeth counts on GS starters. IF it fitted, there's the possibility the wrong one was fitted.
 
Assuming starter solenoid didn?t lock ?on?.. I?d suspect the starter clutch assembly was done wrong and locked up after/ during your first ride?this would cause starter motor to be dragged around rather than being released.
 
tom203 said:
Assuming starter solenoid didn?t lock ?on?.. I?d suspect the starter clutch assembly was done wrong and locked up after/ during your first ride?this would cause starter motor to be dragged around rather than being released.
Click to expand...

That makes a lot of sense! Especially since I only rode it the one time... it stalls/shuts off pretty regularly in the winter (usually can fix it with a carb adjustment/idling to warm up for a few minutes) so I had to start it at a few stoplights during my ride. Makes sense that the teeth would be chewed to bits if it was dragging each time I started it on the ride.
 
Would this be similar to the comment below yours? The wrong teeth were fitted and just stripped out the starter?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

oldGSfan
Something hinky with GS1100E starter or starter clutch?
Replies
16
Views
248
oldGSfan
oldGSfan
O
Did I just fry the starter motor?
Replies
5
Views
100
oldsecret
O
K
Flywheel Magnetic Rotor Damaged
Replies
4
Views
136
Redman
Redman
R
Big wiring problem, general 1100 questions
Replies
8
Views
169
wyly
W
Al1208
1980 GS 550 ran great when I bought it and now won't start
Replies
3
Views
92
Nessism
Nessism
Back
Top