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Help Starter clutch inspection/help - VT250F

Discussion in 'Honda 250cc Twins' started by iopsd, Aug 5, 2021.

  1. iopsd

    iopsd carbs are scary

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    Hello again, you may remember my pleading cries from my classic carb clean thread, now I return to you with a new problem.
    My bike was running briefly, before a worrying noise made me turn it off, only to find the starter had now cooked itself.
    I took apart the starter and had a load of material which resembled coal dust fell out, and I proceeded to replace the horribly worn parts and reinstall it, and now... It just spins? Is my starter clutch out or what? I've attached a video of what it does for some help in maybe diagnosing it.
    I'd also like to know what I should be looking out for as I disassemble the starter clutch in terms of worn parts, as I'll have to rebuild that aswell if it is indeed the issue.
     
    iopsd, Aug 5, 2021
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  2. 2valve

    2valve Well-Known Member

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    Hi Buddy
    The coal dust you've mentioned will be carbon from the armature brush's wearing out. The carbon ash get's into everything and short's thing's out if it build's up to much. There is a product called solvent 13 that will break down carbon , this solvent is clear like water , but after washing a starter motor armature and associated part's , this liquid will go black with carbon ash all through it. VERY bad for you hand's , gloves must be used. Also it's highly flammable. I yous'e to use this stuff a long time ago doing electric motor's.
    Anyway , in your video , your tacho spin's up to 6000RPM , which no doubt isn't right.
    Personally , i'd take the starter motor back out and take it a old school auto electrician or take the bike to him before you damage anything.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    2valve, Aug 6, 2021
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  3. iopsd

    iopsd carbs are scary

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    I may give a go at rebuilding the starter once again as I can't really afford a specialty mechanics fees, also after recharging my battery, it's occurred to me that the sound in that video was actually the relay.
    I don't particularly know why the tach was doing such in that video but it used to jump when starting it when the bike actually ran, so maybe it's just a quirk of the system?
     
    iopsd, Aug 11, 2021
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  4. 2valve

    2valve Well-Known Member

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    No , problem , and i do understand not having the budget to pay a auto electrician for work.
    The auto electrician can though run the starter with his test gear , bringing up faults , current draw / shorts etc.
    The tacho shouldn't read like that while trying to start it , it should only read when the motor fire's as such.
    Honestly , if the starter motor was full of carbon as you've mentioned , the starter motor will need some serious cleaning / servicing to get the carbon off everything , let alone wear and tear on the commutator that will no doubt need skimming.
    The solvent that I used in the past to clean carbon off with only come in a 20ltr drum. Cost $ back then too !.
    In the end it will / may be cheaper to get a auto electrician to repair it.
     
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    2valve, Aug 11, 2021
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  5. jmw76

    jmw76 Well-Known Member

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    I have had an engine destroy a starter motor in the past.
    Lots of dust from the internals totally disintegrating.
    What was left was unusable.
    But that tacho issue is very weird.
    Check wiring elsewhere. Are all the grounds connected?
    Where is that noise actually coming from? Starter motor? starter clutch? Starter solenoid???
     
    jmw76, Aug 11, 2021
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  6. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

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    VT250F Tachos are problematic. They often stop working on one bike, but then when you move them to another bike (and loom) they work fine. There are 3 wires connected to the back of the tacho. Check the wiring diagram as one of them is the signal carrier and that one is often the one that has issues.
     
    Frankster, Aug 12, 2021
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  7. iopsd

    iopsd carbs are scary

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    The noise was actually coming from the relay, so I guess the solenoid; It was simply not getting a firm connection because my battery was dying, presumably from a lack of usage, after charging said battery, the noise stopped and it went back to the old sound of just clicking and the starter motor doing nothing at all. I have taken a look at all electrical connections I can find and am currently making an investment into a multimeter.
    Speaking of which, I am having an absolute dog tracking down parts for the starter on my bike and was wondering if anyone knows if the VTR250 starters and Spada starters are exactly the same? They appear to be the same model number and have the same collars and brackets but I don't want to spend any unnecessary money on a part I can't use again.
    Definitely going to give everything a look over once I actually get the thing to start moving again.
     
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    iopsd, Aug 15, 2021
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