Topic: cb550 starter issue

[78whiteorbs]

Recently snagged  a very low mile 76 cb550 in really nice shape. PO said starter no longer worked. Charged the newish battery and hit the magic button and the starter is buzzing humming but not spinning. Cable gets hot and trying to hit the starter button just a few time pretty much kills the battery. Solenoid works fine and it kicks over fine. It's as if the starter is binding somehow . Removed starter took apart cleaned and replaced Same thing. Brushes looked like new but the lower part of the core (don't know what this is called) has some obvious heavy friction rub marks. Was gonna just replace with a good starter but these things aren't really that complex... I did test it outside of the engine and same thing would not spin just humming. You can spin the gear by hand but feels like it has way more resistance than it should.

[strynboen]

is the bearing or bronze bushing gone..then the anker is rubbing the housing(feltcoils)...you can have thekked the parts at a auto elektric store/shop

[gregripko]

I had this same issue regarding starting the bike....
This helped me a lot:

Charge the battery overnight and see if it starts at least once...if it doesn't start again or struggles to start after a couple times try adjusting the voltage regulator. It has a point looking gap that can be adjusted using a screw... And requires a multimeter to properly set. There's posts on sohc4 about adjusting the voltage regulator and it's just a good practice to do anyways because it requires attention if it hasn't before.

[NobleHops]

Scroll down to post 94 in my build thread and you can see my rebuild of my starter. I found rebuild kits online for something like $18, complete, including on eBay.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=131210.94

Assuming both ends of that starter power lead are squeaky clean and that cable is not frayed? If it makes crackly sounds when you bend it, it could be ripe for replacement, but that's unlikely.

Agree, sounds like a bearing or bushing problem, easy fun project to totally renew it.

N.

[TwoTired]

If you have scrape marks on the outside of the armature, and rub marks on the frame, then the bearings are worn out allowing contact.  This effectively shorts out the motor, which causes way excessive current draw from the battery.  That's why the cables get hot.  The current draw makes the voltage fall way low, which disengages the solenoid, which then makes the voltage com back up, and the cycling of the solenoid makes it buzz.  This is the same sound a weak battery makes, even when the starter motor is good.  The battery just can't keep the voltage up when more is demanded than it has in capability, old or new.

Had this problem on my 75 CB550F about 15-20 years ago.   I robbed a motor bearing from another Japanese starter I found in the wrecking yard, and put it into the failed one. The starter motor still works fine to this day.

[78whiteorbs]

If you have scrape marks on the outside of the armature, and rub marks on the frame, then the bearings are worn out allowing contact.  This effectively shorts out the motor, which causes way excessive current draw from the battery.  That's why the cables get hot.  The current draw makes the voltage fall way low, which disengages the solenoid, which then makes the voltage com back up, and the cycling of the solenoid makes it buzz.  This is the same sound a weak battery makes, even when the starter motor is good.  The battery just can't keep the voltage up when more is demanded than it has in capability, old or new.

Had this problem on my 75 CB550F about 15-20 years ago.   I robbed a motor bearing from another Japanese starter I found in the wrecking yard, and put it into the failed one. The starter motor still works fine to this day.

Sounds exactly what has happened. I got a tested good one from a forum member here for 15$ which seems like the path of least resistance for me. Thanks for sharing.will report back when the new one arrives .Thanks fellas

[strynboen]

klean/thek the komutator for oil.
.this honda"s are not nohvn for filling oil in the starter,,,,as some suzuki often does..there are a sealing for engine oil..vho can be thanged if oil are a problem..

my vifes suz gn 250 often fill the starter vith oil..and it make it start slow