Starter trouble

[rustynuts]

Sometime last year when starting the IP2, the starter kept turning when the button was released and didn't stop when the ignition was turned off. On returning to the bike after a sprint to fetch a spanner to disconnect the battery and a bar to whack the starter relay with, the battery was discharged and the cable very hot, but luckily not on fire. Thinking the problem was most likely a sticky starter relay, I replaced it for new and all was fine until today when it happened again. So, either modern Lucas starter relays aren't very reliable, or my starter motor is drawing excessive current and welding the relay contacts, but I am guessing it is the latter. Has anyone else had similar trouble, and is it an engine out job to remove the starter?

[Dell Boy]

I have had the button stick in.Whip the gloves off, get finger nail under button & pull it out to stop the starter motor.End of panic.This happened a couple of times on the IP2.Derek.

[Richard Negus]

With a bit of dismantling, it is possible to remove the starter by, effectively, lifting the frame off the engine.Carbs off, air transfer ports off, two self-tappers ate. the top of the air box out.Silencers off, footrest plates off, suspension units disconnected. Remove the starter motor boltsBox under the engine, remove two bolts at the gearbox and lift the frame up enough to remove and replace the starter motor.I'm sure there's one or two other little items to remove/disconnect Only slightly less faff than removing the primary drive to get the engine out, and many of the same parts have to be removed either way.Before any of this, check the white/yellow wire to the solenoid isn't still live when the ignition is off. Combine this with a sticky starter button and you have your 'sticky' solenoid.The a common starter motor problem is low power when oil gets in as the seal begins to fail.

[johnbirchjar]

What would make the white/yellow wire suddenly become live?J.B.

[andy588tt]

Hi RustynutsMy first Courier rotary bike the Interpol2 had this problem I was on my way home from a delivery into central London Just got onto the A ll and this whirring noise frightened me to death I stopped the bike removed battery lead said a few choice words waited to downI was very lucky I fitted battery lead and it seam to go fine I replaced the ford escort solenoid and that was it I never had the problem again.Fit a new solenoid! I know what it does but how it does it is a mystery to me.Ride safeAndy

[gripper]

Whilst it's not a rotary, I recently had the exact same problem on my son's Honda NTV650. I had to rapidly disconnect the battery. The battery was a little on the flat side and once fully charged, problem solved. I suspect the solenoid but until the problem re-appears I'll do that ostrich thing.

[Richard Negus]

I now remember I had the solenoid stick on twice in Scotland this year; the first time, it sounded like a failed main bearing. Turned out it was the push-button sticking in and a quick squirt of WD40 cured it the second time it happened. Maybe yours wouldn't stop because the solenoid contacts were welded or the extra heat made the solenoid plunger stick even when the power was switched off.