Need starter motor recommendation

[Sidecar Bob]

My original starter motor was clean, freshly lubed and had the tabs sharpened and bent up a bit but it still wouldn't turn the engine over when it was warm so in the spring of 2010 I bought the RBK-33 kit everyone said was good and rebuilt it. In the fall of 2011 it started doing the same thing again so I ended up putting the old one back in for a few weeks until the winter machine was ready to put on the road for the winter.

In the spring of 2012 I bought a new replacement from Caltric on eBay. That one failed in the fall (about 6500 Km) and again I ended up putting the old one back in for a few weeks until the winter machine was ready to put on the road for the winter.

Caltric sent me a warranty replacement but it arrived after the bike was in bed for the winter so I installed it in the spring.

I have been ill a lot of the last year and a half so I didn't put the 'Wing on the road until July last year and have only put 4004 Km on it since then. On Friday morning it wouldn't start. The battery's positive post & the strap that connects it to the solenoid got so hot that the cable's solder melted and the battery's post broke. When I checked everything over I discovered that the starter motor is a dead short (the original is 0.4 ohms). Connecting the jumper cables directly to the starter motor causes a spark but that's all.

I have sent Caltric a message and asked for a refund but I won't hold my breath.

In the meantime I need a new starter motor again and I don't want to waste my money on more junk. The rest of the ones on eBay, even at nearly double the price, have the same oval hole for the mounting bolt as the Caltric (the original is round) or show a pic of a different part (how much trouble is it to take one pic if you want to sell a bunch of the same item?) so I don't trust them.

What do you guys recommend that won't break the bank but will last more than a year?

[Red2trike]

I had to replace my GL1200A starter about 3 yrs. ago over a Labor Day weekend. I found this website: www.stockers.com

Got a "stock" (OEM) replacement via USPS in about 3 days (shipping place was close) and have NOT any any issues since. Price was reasonable as I checked with other sites and prices varied greatly. I just looked for my paperwork can't locate it, but price was under $90US (at the time) if I remember correctly. Not sure which yr. of GL you need but...I recommend this site/company.

RT2

[Sidecar Bob]

Their prices look really good until you add in the casting & shipping, and then it is over $200. I know sending them the old one would reduce that a bit but by the time I paid postage to them it wouldn't be much. But that said, I guess that's not too terribly awful for something that will work properly.

BTW: Its an '83 with a '79 engine so I do have to be careful to order parts for the correct model. In this case, though, all GL1000 & 1100 starter motors are the same so it doesn't matter.

And also, I meant to mention that I am not adverse to a rebuilt one. I couldn't get a kit for the 650's starter motor so I bought a rebuilt from a place in Quebec and it has been working perfectly since 2009.

[robin1731]

This is why I like to get the original one's rebuilt at a place that does them for a living. I used to have a very good place that I took mine too. They did car stuff. Starters, alternators, generators from older cars. They were bought up by another place that I haven't the need for yet. But when I do that's where mine will go.

[Whiskerfish]

I got one from Stockers like 3 years ago based on a recommendation from Randakk. I finally installed it last year and so far it has served me very well. http://www.stockers.com/index.php?dt=HS-36N is what I am using. Same model fits the 1100 and the 1000. I think I just had to use the 1000 gear not the one that came on it but I can not remember for sure.

[CYBORG]

I agree with finding a local rebuilder. Cheapest way to go, and you will have the original starter.

[Placerville]

I agree with finding a local rebuilder. Cheapest way to go, and you will have the original starter.

Yes, and if you want to buy new, I'd go with 'Ricks'.

[alwing17]

I bought from Ricks,and have had good luck with it 5+ years and doing fine. I think an 1100 starter will fit in a 1000 in a stock 1000 frame,but a 1000 starter won't fit in a 1100 motor and frame because ,I believe it is about 1/4" longer.

[77Pinto]

......Its an '83 with a '79 engine so I do have to be careful to order parts for the correct model. In this case, though, all GL1000 & 1100 starter motors are the same so it doesn't.....

Incorrect.

A GL1000 starter is longer and will not fit in an 1100. I never tried to install an 1100 starter in a 1000.


Bill

[Sidecar Bob]

OK, I stand corrected. But if the engine blocks are the same I wonder why they would use different starter motors?

Anyway, after looking at the recommendations in this thread I have decided to leave work early on Wednesday and take the worst old starter motor to the rebuilder.

[77Pinto]

.....if the engine blocks are the same I wonder why they would use different starter motors......

The left engine case is different on the 1100s, and that is why the 1000 starter will not fit.

The 1100 starter can be removed without removing ANY other parts, where the 1000s need the exhaust manifold removed as well as one stud.



Bill

[Sidecar Bob]

Don't forget that the gearshift pedal has to come off too, and even then there isn't a lot of room in there.

How much shorter is the 1100 starter motor? The crappy one I bought from Caltric is supposed to fit all 'Wings from '79-'83. I wonder if that is why they have a slot for the mounting bolt instead of a round hole?

[77Pinto]

Don't forget that the gearshift pedal has to come off too....

I normally just 'shift' it out of the way without removing it, at least for the 1100s; been a while on the 1000 and crs.



Bill

[backyardbob]

If you have time for a quick trip to Madoc, I've rebuilt a few starters.....613 473 1842

[Sidecar Bob]

Thanks for the offer, but the half hour drive to the guy in Port Perry is about as far as the doctor is comfortable with me driving these days.