Topic: Starter issue or just bad battery...again..CB550

[HondaMan]

Your old one's brushes are used up. They could be that way from a wobbling shaft - or, maybe from someone using it to drive the bike when the engine wouldn't start? (I've actually seen that done with a Suzuki 380.)

Correction: it was a Suzuki 550 (much abused, in Gold color - the 380 never came in gold that I remember!) 

[bryanj]

The end of the shaft by the comm looks very worn as well

[Tracksnblades1]

Your old one's brushes are used up. They could be that way from a wobbling shaft - or, maybe from someone using it to drive the bike when the engine wouldn't start? (I've actually seen that done with a Suzuki 380.)

Didn’t the 550s have a neutral switch and clutch switch to prevent bike from moving while starter is engaged?

[bryanj]

Yes they did but they would not cause the massive volt drop problem, would just not let starter turn at all

[jonda500]

My Suzuki 380 didn't have electric start? The Suzuki 550 had kick and electric start.
John

[HondaMan]

My Suzuki 380 didn't have electric start? The Suzuki 550 had kick and electric start.
John

Didn’t the 550s have a neutral switch and clutch switch to prevent bike from moving while starter is engaged?

You're absolutely right! It must have been the 550. 

They were both the 'small' bikes in the sales shop in those days. I mostly remember being underneath the smaller Triples, cleaning those tiny check valves that sucked the bottoms of the crankcases out to prevent Kawi-like smokescreens, and fumbling the pipes off-and-back-on to get to them (they were press-fit in the early bikes, don't know about the 2nd design). In the 1973 versions the little check valves started working like they were supposed to (or maybe something else in the engines changed?) and we didn't have to deal with them after that. The GT750 didn't seem to suffer the same problem.

The one with the burned-out starter came in with hacked-up wiring (maybe to bypass the starter interlock? I didn't work on it), fouled sparkplugs and an empty oil injection tank (which might be why it wouldn't run?). The rear tire was almost flat and had cords showing in one spot. It wasn't 2 years old, either. It was still there awaiting a new starter when I left in July. Funny how certain bikes stick in one's mind...

[denward17]

I purchased a used starter from Ebay, came off of a 1978 550.

When I test it on the bench it really jumps and spins, unlike the original one. 

The "new" used starter has just a bit of vertical movement on the driveshaft, whereas my original didn't.  I think the original had been worked on before and additional shims were added to make it tighter.  That was probably another reason it didn't work well, and ended up binding at times.

Can't actually test on the bike yet as I have the battery box out along with doing more carb work.

[grcamna2]

I purchased a used starter from Ebay, came off of a 1978 550.

When I test it on the bench it really jumps and spins, unlike the original one. 

The "new" used starter has just a bit of vertical movement on the driveshaft, whereas my original didn't.  I think the original had been worked on before and additional shims were added to make it tighter.  That was probably another reason it didn't work well, and ended up binding at times.

Can't actually test on the bike yet as I have the battery box out along with doing more carb work.

Will you open it up,to clean-it ?

[denward17]

I purchased a used starter from Ebay, came off of a 1978 550.

When I test it on the bench it really jumps and spins, unlike the original one. 

The "new" used starter has just a bit of vertical movement on the driveshaft, whereas my original didn't.  I think the original had been worked on before and additional shims were added to make it tighter.  That was probably another reason it didn't work well, and ended up binding at times.

Can't actually test on the bike yet as I have the battery box out along with doing more carb work.

Will you open it up,to clean-it ?

Not planning to, will just use it as it is, if problems later will open it up then.

[denward17]

Verified this morning that "new" used starter is working properly, again thanks for all the help.

Engine spins like it should.

[bryanj]

I will put money on a po interfering with the original one, they are normally incredibly robust

[denward17]

I will put money on a po interfering with the original one, they are normally incredibly robust

It looked like it had been into, and I think it probably had 1 too many shims, as it felt tight vertically, whereas the new one had a little play.

[grcamna2]

Verified this morning that "new" used starter is working properly, again thanks for all the help.

Engine spins like it should.