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Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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Old 20 Aug 2009
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1150GS - starter motor scretch
Dear All,

Im currently in Haines Alaska and my starter motor has developed a disconcerting screech just after the engine starts and you release the starter button. Im not overly worried, but it certainly aint right. has anyone had this problem and what are is the cause and cure?:confused1:

Many thanks in advance, Stuart.
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Old 20 Aug 2009
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My airhead R100 had a similar screaching noise for a while . News is not good. ,after a year or so it finally packed it in. Turns out the magnets had been coming loose and were grinding on the armature.
Better have it looked at soon, probably will require a new starter motor.
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Old 20 Aug 2009
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Hello Stuart!

I had the same problem on my 1150 adv about 40.000 km ago! After I took it apart and re greased the shaft it has been fine. The starter motor made some noise a couple of days some months down the track after greasing, but I fixed that by threatening it with replacement!! A new one from mr bmw was 1000 aud plus freight out in the bush where I was, so that was not an option!

Cheers Tom
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Old 20 Aug 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomlen View Post
Hello Stuart!

I had the same problem on my 1150 adv about 40.000 km ago! After I took it apart and re greased the shaft it has been fine. The starter motor made some noise a couple of days some months down the track after greasing, but I fixed that by threatening it with replacement!! A new one from mr bmw was 1000 aud plus freight out in the bush where I was, so that was not an option!

Cheers Tom
1000 aud Eek!
I think it likely that the noise is the pinion gear not freeing up after starting, so as Tomlen says, a clean and grease it may well fix it. It has for me in the past on cars. Anyway, it wont cost much to try. ATM my own starter motor is very quiet, completly dead in fact. I only check it every couple of weeks or so, or if I cant be bothered to kick start the bike. On Tuesday , all I got was a click from the starter solenoid. but no power to the starter. Maybe 500 miles in torrential rain had something to do with it. I have a new one on order ( £24.95) so hopefully will be all fixed by next week.
Tip of the week:, dont immerse a mobile phone in petrol, it dissolves ( very quickly)
Last edited by oldbmw; 20 Aug 2009 at 17:09. Reason: tripewriter malfunction
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Old 21 Aug 2009
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Thanks for the input guys I will give the grease and clean a go. Im not too stressed as I am about to retire the old girl after taking me most of the way around the world., both her and I are taking a beach break.
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Old 31 Aug 2009
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Simple cause.

The support bearing in the back cover need relubrication; its dry and/or worn-out and wobbles.

Have that phenomena on my VW typ 4 van. The support bearing is a bras permanent lubricated version on the VW - and is worn out. Quite annoying!

Guess you can relubricate the bearing with the startermotor inplace as I can on the VW.
If you have time - take out the startermotor, open it and regrease the "gearbox" as well. I have yet to open a startermotor that is well greased from factory...

Is it a valeo or a bosch?

Valeo startermotors (installed on all my beemers as a "tune-up") need badly to be opened when they are brand new - since they "lack" grease in the "gearbox"... Their support bearing needs just as badly to be put in oil over night to soak-up enough since they tend to be just about as dry as the lack of grease in the other end...
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