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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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  #1  
Old 30 Aug 2008
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Serow - West London/Surrey

Can anyone recommend a mechanic in the Staines/Woking area who would be able to work on my 1996 Serow?

My starter motor is kaput, and my usual mechanic keeps putting me off as he's incredibly busy at the moment. However I'm itching to get the Serow up and running while we've still got some summer.

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Old 30 Aug 2008
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Any idea what sort of 'kaput' it's suffering from ?
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Old 30 Aug 2008
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Kaput Serow Starter

You press the ignition button, the starter makes a (slightly unhealthy?) whirring noise, but nothing turns over in the engine.

It occurred intermittently over the course of a weekend, and I was able to push start it when the starter wasn't engaging. However a couple of miles from home (lucky) the bike stalled, and I've failed to get it started by either the starter motor, or push-starting, since.

Any advice/recommendations most welcome.
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Old 30 Aug 2008
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If stater motor is turning over it could be starter motor clutch not fully engaging. You might be luck and just have to remove engine side cover, remove starter clutch, clean it up and put it back in. Or if it's seriously 'kaput', a new one might be required.
Other possable causes might be worn starter motor bushes, worn starter/clutch gears or low battery charge. Have you put battery on charge ? Try the battery first, it's the easiest, then looks like spannering time.
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Old 30 Aug 2008
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Ange

Sorry can't advise on mechanics in your area. I have a 92 Serow and although I have not had the same issue mine is starting to make noises there. The starter clutch Brian refers to is tucked behind the flywheel/rotor, it is driven by a starter idler gear which is driven by the starter motor, it is possible any of these gears are affected but the starter clutch itself is most likely. Probably worth at same time getting starter motor overhauled with new brushes and grease up the bearings. There is an yamaha manual to download at the excellent XT225/250 Rider's Group website with a very well supported forum of serow riders. My serow is currently with my son down at the Bristol mini-meet. Sorry I can't be of more help hope you get it sorted, let us know as mine could be headed the same way.

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Old 30 Aug 2008
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Thanks Robin & Brian (and those who've PM'd me)

If only it was the battery - that much I can fix!! But no, it's seems to work or fail regardless of how topped up the battery is.

I'm not sure if it's the starter motor clutch not engaging, or if it needs replacing. I did get my hands dirty and my spanners out, however once the engine side cover was removed all I learned was what the inside of the engine looked like (and not knowing what it's meant to look like, I was a little bit lost!)

I'd be happy to give repairing it a stab, if I knew what I was doing was going to help, not make thigs worse. However, but maybe (just maybe) it might be time to let an expert take a look!

Maybe, if the weather's nice tomorrow, I'll get my toolkit out again and pretend I know what I'm talking about (with a little help from xt225.com perhaps)...

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Old 30 Aug 2008
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If you descide to dive into the engine internals yourself, you will need a flywheel puller to remove flywheel, give me a shout, I'm in Staines area and have one you can use.
Also if it's like similar bikes I have had with same problem, try putting bike in 1st gear, clutch in and push it backwards let the clutch out, you should hear the 'whirr' of the starter gears, if your lucky it might also nudge the starter into activity (temperarily).
Sorry I can't recomend any good mechanics in Staines area, they all seem to be closing down !
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