Starter Motor {VFR 750F 1988 Model}

Some of you may have seen my intro and picked up on a problem I'm having with the bike I've just bought.

When I bought the bike just over a week ago, after viewing and listening to the bike I had no reason not to buy, she sounded lovely and rode over 30 mile home without a problem. The next few days at home we had a few cold frosty days so I decided to run the bike everyday just to keep things ticking over whilst I waited a week to get the money together for my bike insurance.

Just a week later I started my bike up, now I noticed that sometimes the press of the starter button would not start the bike 1st time, and other times the bike would turn over straight away. When the starter motor did kick in the bike is not struggling to start.

I thought I'll have to take a look at the starter and see if there is anything un-toward with the bushes or something {not really clued up on them but can recognise bushes if they have gone west}.

Anyway back to my bigger problem, when I last started the bike last Friday as soon as she warmed up I heard this horrible noise that don't sound to good. The bike fired up ok and throttles fine, just this noise sounds like a marble flying around in the engine.

I've been told to wizz the plugs out and check them and also look at the starter seeing as the troubles seem to be starting from here and work my way back.

I haven't managed to get the plugs out yet as my 2 Spark Plug Sockets are 1 is too big and the other too small. So I now need to buy a 18mm deep socket so I can take a look. I've removed fairing and seat and also the tank and I've also removed my starter motor yesterday and that's as far as I've got.

Now the guy who I bought this bike off seems a genuine fella and I have no reason to believe he was selling a dog. He told me all liquids coolent have been replaced oil filter new battery etc. Well when I dropped some oil out yesterday it was very dark and unlike new oil, I went a bit further and took the battery out and I wouldn't say it was new and wouldn't say it was that old as I brought it in and cleaned it up and but my meter on it and the battery is fully charged.

I have taken pictures of my starter motor, the armature is virtually smooth now, but I guess at 20 years old it's bound to be a bit worn. Don't know whever anybody can tell from my pictures if the starter looks fine ?

If it does then I can put it back together when I've got 2 new bolts. Hows it look in the pictures ?



















Thanks for looking.

TPR

 

I owe a VFR 750 ('87). Your starter motor looks not so bad (mine is 21 y.o.).
Once, I heard a noise on my bike like you described. It was a little gear on the camshaft : they call it "free wheel gear". It feels the RPM and allows to lead current to the spark unit. If it is in bad conditions no current for engine start or this bad noise...
Hard to say if this is the origin of the trouble but may help. My advice is to reinstall your starter motor and to check what I said.
Good luck !
Carmine

 

I've had the same problem...it is not the starter motor...

look at the picture below...component n°5


if you take down the clutch cover (after having drained the oil...) you'll see 2 or more cracks on it...:bs:

 

Hello CARMINE & vfr89 :smile:

Many thanks for the reply and the help, I appreciate this input :wink:

So I can safely put the starter motor back together and finish that and move on, so the problem don't sound to serious to you two ?....I mean I'm dreading what I find if anything because there was no sign of anything going wrong when I bought the bike, it's just a coincidence something has gone wrong to cause this strange noise.

Thanks again.

Regards

TPR

 

Hi TPR! I suggest you to check that damn component, if it is starting to break...change it as fast as possible...It tends to crack into 3 parts

I can't forgive that horrible cracking noise during starting operation...and it became suddendly so bad that I couldn't start the motor...

I've seen other vfr starter clutches with the same problem of mine on the web...so it can be considered a weak part of our engine ...if the battery is not kept charged...(Aprilia RSV1000s have the same problem)

Hope it helps

Carlo

Italy

 

Okdokie vfr89 I'll check this out mate later when I've re-assembled the starter motor :wink:

Many thanks my friend for the help and guidance :wink:

TPR42

 

**update 10/12/2008 Look @ This Please**

I'm hoping vfr89 & CARMINE are online and can get back to me asap please as I've started to dismantle my engine, but not being a mechanic I can do a few jobs but when it comes to all these cogs I'm stuffed. So I don't want to take anything off that I don't want to and have springs & bits all over the place.

Right just been outside and made a start, I'm happy with the starter motor and all that can now go back on. Next I've drained the engine oil so I can take the right side crank casing off to inspect for this funny noise I've been getting..sounds like a bolt rolling around in the missus washing machine. I managed to part the crankcase cover and look at the pictures to see what I have discovered :redface:

The three bolts where my finger points are almost undone, it took me 1/4 of a turn by hand to remove the top one and the other 2 where almost out aswell.

I'm hoping that this is all that the noise has been with these 3 bolts, I think I can safely say if it is this then I have been very lucky, as if one of these came out it would do some serious damage.

Here is the pictures to help you and to see if you can help me and advise please :wink:















Hope you can help me, thanks in advance :wink:

 

Hi, I think that vfr89 is right : the problems is there. Change these bolts if you can or reinstall them as carefully as you can.
May be you will solve your problem : as you can understand we offer our genuine experience but at a distance is always hard to be sure what problem ypu are dealing with. Old Ladies as our VFR need care and a patient attitude.
Good luck buddy and let us know !
Lapms, Carmine.

 

Yeah I understand what you are saying CARMINE :smile:

Thanks mate for the reply, well I'll check it out and Torque the bolts up to the specs, I'm confidant that there is no more damage and I think this was the knocking noise because the starter clutch was wobbly and loose. Guess somebody may have forgotten to tighten them up or just worn loose with age :unsure:

Anyway I'm glad I found these and hopefully I'll be back on the Road soon rather than later :wink:

Cheers m8 for the help...appreciated here by a novice in mechanics :wink:

 

This starter clutch system is the same or very similar to the ones on the '90-'97 bikes.

Checking the manual, it states that the torque values for these 3 bolts are as follows:
40 N-m
4.0 kg-m
30 ft-lb

In addition to that, there is a "NOTE 1" associated to them that specifies a "locking agent" be applied to the threads.

I suspect that your bike needs this locking agent to be re-applied, or the last person who had it apart neglected to re-apply the locking agent.

 

BTW - these bolts are not prone to stretching, and should not need to be replaced with new ones.

 

Hi VT VIFFER,
precise and precious as ever ! Hope our new friend TPR 42 will win his battle !
Lamps !
Carmine

 

TPR I suggest you to unlock that central 14mm timing bolt to check the starter clutch status, but you'll need one of these http://i16.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/8d/42/6e50_1.JPG if you can't block the gears.

Change all the spark plugs...they are so cheap.

I confirm that the starter assembly is the same of RC36.

 

Okdokie, you're a great bunch here and I thank you for the help you have given me, I'll check it all out before I seal the crankcase back up and renew the oil aswell as new spark plugs :smile:

Viffer I did think today maybe them bolts should have thread lock on them, like you say mate I think somebody has forgotten. I have some thread lock somewhere so I'll use that when I am certain everything is as it should be.

Thank you Viffer CARMINE and vfr89 :smile:

Regards,

TPR.

 

You definitely stumbled upon the BEST VFR site on the 'net.

 

I think I have m8, just a shame that so many of you sound guys here are many miles away from me here in the UK :unsure::smile:

Regards,

TPR.

 

We are proud to help you :wink:

 

the oily- looking plug suggests a small oil leak around the central o-ring part of the valve cover gasket.....not a big deal

clean off all remnants of old gasket,install new gasket, and get the proper length bolts back into the matching holes.

 

**update 11/12/2008 @ 12.54**

I knew I wouldn't be so lucky the way my luck has gone of late.

I have removed the starter clutch, and have inspected it and found 1 crack which I've taken pictures of.

Question is, this will need replacing now ? and does anybody know of reptuable websites in the UK or World wide were I can source a new one :treehugger:









If you look in this picture the crack is at the bottom between the two pieces.



Regards,

TPR.

 

Replace it with a new one, I suggest you to order it in a commond Honda spare parts center, it is expensive (about 150€) but there are no alteratives...

change also the springs...each costs about 1,5 €

http://hawkworks.net/VFR750F-1997-fiche/pulse_generator.html

take a look on this great site....http://www.cmsnl.com/products/outer-comp-start_28120ml7690/