possible sprag failure

Message

robbier6 · #1 Post by **robbier6** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:29 am

Morning Gents,

went to start the Falco last night and was met with silence, well except for the clicking of the starter solenoid and the whirr of the fuel pump

Have i got a goosed sprag clutch?

I've spoke to Jay on Fb as regards to cost but i think this job is way beyond my level of talent, whats the approx repair cost if anybody has the same issue.

Cheers

KitchenSync · #2 Post by **KitchenSync** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:44 am

It seemed daunting but I managed it - and got away with just snipping 20mm out of the spring. I didn't even bother replacing the gasket *shameface*.

So my cost was an oil change, a filter plus tool outlay. There was some minor scoring but I had nothing to lose by taking the bodge route as I knew I'd be changing the engine at some point (a different and as yet ongoing tale of woe).

Very happy to mail you my puller and green loctite if you decide to have a go.

robbier6 · #3 Post by **robbier6** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:06 am

Thanks Kitch,

i'm trying to see where it is in the bike, but as yet have come up empty handed.

Found it!! ooh

deep inside, now i'm concerned....lack of talent, engine apart....... i'm doomed, i'm doomed!

Chabby · #4 Post by **Chabby** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:58 pm

Was your starter motor spinning?

If yes, sprags gone.

If no, solenoid, battery or rarely, starter motor.

Check all connections from battery to starter motor, including earths, before replacing anything.

My bet is fried solenoid caused by duff battery.

fatboy · #5 Post by **fatboy** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:46 pm

With Chabby on this one, if your sprag is gone the starter will spin but the the motor will not turn over, you will not be met with silence but a gut churning, awful very real crunching noise .
It as a sickening sound, it will make you want to cry on behalf of your engine
Check all connections pos and neg, battery, fuses, starter relay, starter motor, then maybe blast the RH bar kill switch with some contact cleaner

Aladinsaneuk · #6 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:51 pm

Short the solenoid - if it spins up then you know it's the solenoid

And I reckon that that is the issue

robbier6 · #7 Post by **robbier6** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 7:06 am

Morning Gents

i had no starter motor spinning just the click of the solenoid and could hear the fuel pump whirring away inside the tank.

Battery normally sits on an optimate, but i forgot to put it on before i went away so it wasn't charging for approx 2 weeks...it tried to start anddid run for a bit then cut that's when i went to try it again and was met with nothing just the click of the solenoid.
I think i'll get a solenoid and go through all the connections as well

On a seperate issue, where would i go to get seal kits and pistons to overhaul the brakes.

I shall keep you all posted... thanks again gents, always a font of knowledge here

D-Rider · #8 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:24 am

Flat or knackered battery

spiderwheels · #9 Post by **spiderwheels** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:28 am

robbier6 wrote: On a seperate issue, where would i go to get seal kits and pistons to overhaul the brakes.

I shall keep you all posted... thanks again gents, always a font of knowledge here

I just ordered a full kit of seals for my ZX's 6 pots from an outfit called powerhouse-uk off ebay. They seemed like good quality and turned up next day (for an extra £1).

robbier6 · #10 Post by **robbier6** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:34 am

Don't think the battery is knackered had it on charge since sunday, fully charged with no issues, plus it's been kept on trickle charge all the time, been caught out before....there isn't an alarm on the bike to drain it either

Firestarter · #11 Post by **Firestarter** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 9:38 am

robbier6 wrote:Don't think the battery is knackered had it on charge since sunday, fully charged with no issues, plus it's been kept on trickle charge all the time, been caught out before....there isn't an alarm on the bike to drain it either

Although it "fully charged", it could be that as soon as it is put under load it falls over - what happens to the voltage when you try and start? Battery would still be my first thought. How old is the battery? If it's getting on, that two weeks could have been enough to put it over the edge, even if it has been on the optimate most of it's life

robbier6 · #12 Post by **robbier6** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 9:46 am

I'll whack a multimeter over it later and see what we get volts wise..battery is probably 2 years old

D-Rider · #13 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 9:49 am

robbier6 wrote:I'll whack a multimeter over it later and see what we get volts wise..battery is probably 2 years old

Open circuit volts will tell you very little - you need to check the voltage under load.

Other possibility is poor connectivity in the starting circuit - corroded terminals, bad earths etc

HowardQ · #14 Post by **HowardQ** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 10:22 am

D-Rider wrote:
robbier6 wrote:I'll whack a multimeter over it later and see what we get volts wise..battery is probably 2 years old
Open circuit volts will tell you very little - you need to check the voltage under load.

Other possibility is poor connectivity in the starting circuit - corroded terminals, bad earths etc

I'll second this, almost certain to be a problem in this area if you only get clicking noise problems, (Fatboy's comments are exactly right about the noise of a shot sprag), it can often be just battery leads, if it is just clicking.

I once started the bike OK after standing for a few weeks, started it again after I'd got it out from the garage, I started it again after a petrol stop.

Stopped to clean my visor in the middle of a run out and just clicking noises when I hit the starter. Thought it must be something serious as has been starting fine before, I just tweaked the battery terminals up a bit and hey presto.
If that does not work, check all the rest and then the solenoid itself.

robbier6 · #15 Post by **robbier6** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:34 am

Right, i think i've got it.

I'll check the connections to and from the battery first, as i had the same issue with the car not long ago, terminals were only hand tight

Then work back from there...solenoid starting circuit etc.

everybody, big thanks for all the input.

If i get her running i'll be in the bar later.