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Falco9
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Good News!!

#1 Post by Falco9 » Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:41 am

My Falco is now back up and running :smt003

However I still have no idea what the original problem was / could have been, as it turned out it wasn't the sprag clutch that was at fault.

My mechanic (what a top bloke!) collected the bike on Monday and rang me yesterday to ask if I had removed the starter motor!!!!...It turns out when I checked the brushes on the motor I then managed to refit the cover backwards and the motor was running in reverse :smt013 The first two idler gears running backwards was the whirring noise Dave & I could hear when we hit the starter (yes I know I am a complete plonker!!!) even the mech said it sounded exactly the same as when the sprag goes; so thank goodness he methodically checked everything out "before" pulling the flywheel off :smt001

He repaired the starter motor (well turned the cover around) and the bike fired up straight away! I've now started her up about a dozen times and all appears well. But the question remains "what the bl**dy hell was wrong the first time". When we looked at it on Saturday (Tweaker & I) it was still just clicking until we shorted out the solenoid (The new one) when we got the "whirring"

I can't believe anything was jammed as I rocked the bike in gear and even managed to get the enging to turn over, trying to bump start it, so surely that would have free'd anything stuck in the idler gears or starter motor???

It may well remain a mystery

F9 :smt006
I've spent 50% of my life riding motorcycles, the rest I've wasted!

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flatlander
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congrats

#2 Post by flatlander » Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:45 am

like having a new bike :smt002
For the avoidance of doubt and for the benefit of my wife, not everything I may say here will be absolutely true I may on ocassion embellish a little for effect.
That said when it comes to motorbikes, I like to ride side saddle with a nice frock

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Tweaker
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#3 Post by Tweaker » Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:21 am

It's just possible that, with the cover reversed, the brushes were jammed against the commutator segments. They can wear assymetrically so reversing them would leave and 'edge' facing the direction of rotation. Just a thought and probably total BS :smt045

Let the mystery remain and enjoy the bike - at last :smt041
The ride is the reason ........ the destination is just the excuse.

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GregD-UK
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#4 Post by GregD-UK » Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:18 pm

Hi all,

Glad all is well with your bike Falco9 :smt002 That could of been a very expensive job, your mechanic IS a top bloke! Hope you got him a beer or two... Enjoy the rest of the summer riding then, be quick though, it finishes on 01st August...
My warranty is the clear/smoked tail lights around the corner!!

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HowardQ
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#5 Post by HowardQ » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:30 pm

Really glad it's all sorted without too much expense Rich.

Just like to add that I now feel much happier about putting the tilt switch back upside down on mine after a battery swap, (thought it was a relay, not the tilt switch, which I wrongly thought was behind the side panel :smt009 ).
Then spent ages wondering why the bloody thing would start, but wouldn't run and replaced numerous bits before realising........ Doooh.
Suppose we all do something like this at some time.
HowardQ

Take a ride on the Dark Side :smt004 :smt096 :smt004

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P

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Falconihlist
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#6 Post by Falconihlist » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:40 pm

Excellent news :smt003
Black is fastest!

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Falcopops
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#7 Post by Falcopops » Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:55 pm

Well, I've got mixed emotions about this.

Glad it's not your your sprag.

Plonker for putting the starter back together incorrectly.

What caused the initial problem? because I'm still getting my intermittent failure to start that was like same problem you had.

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Falco9
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#8 Post by Falco9 » Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:38 am

Falcopops wrote:Well, I've got mixed emotions about this.

Glad it's not your your sprag.

Plonker for putting the starter back together incorrectly.

What caused the initial problem? because I'm still getting my intermittent failure to start that was like same problem you had.
Hi Dale, My thoughts exactly...............My only worry now is "can I trust it?" Will she do the same thing in the middle of Scotland and leave me truly standed??

I've double checked all the electrical connections (again) and WD'd the ignition barrel and cleaned the start button contacts. I reckon I can only wait and see as nothing else seems to be obviously wrong and at the moment shes almost leaping into life off the button. A brand new battery and solenoid , cleaned earths and every electrical connection cleaned and greased with dielectric grease appear to be a good combination, but I still have no idea what the original problem was :smt017

F9 :smt006
I've spent 50% of my life riding motorcycles, the rest I've wasted!

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DavShill
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#9 Post by DavShill » Sun Jul 31, 2011 9:07 am

Brilliant Ted !

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