Starter Motor Replacement
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- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 1:36 pm
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2006 GL1800
Starter Motor Replacement
My 2006's starter motor has seized. A new Honda motor is ridiculously priced here in Canada, and according to my dealership service dept, are on back order until the end of October/early November!
I don't want to pay that much or wait that long!
My question is: would I be better off with a used GW starter motor, or a new aftermarket motor, ie Mitsuba.
Thanks for your insight on this!
I don't want to pay that much or wait that long!
My question is: would I be better off with a used GW starter motor, or a new aftermarket motor, ie Mitsuba.
Thanks for your insight on this!
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- Posts: 147
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
Go with a good used one. You can easily replace the brushes and springs if needed and they are a permanent magnet type so there’s only an armature that could electrically fail. Are you sure yours is seized up? Have you removed it and taken it apart?Quinn wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:20 pmMy 2006's starter motor has seized. A new Honda motor is ridiculously priced here in Canada, and according to my dealership service dept, are on back order until the end of October/early November!
I don't want to pay that much or wait that long!
My question is: would I be better off with a used GW starter motor, or a new aftermarket motor, ie Mitsuba.
Thanks for your insight on this!
- jackjohn
- Posts: 19
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- Location: Richmond, TX
- Motorcycle: 1974 CB450 Sold
1975 GL1000 Sold
1982 GL1100I
2004 GL1800A Sold
2012 GL1800
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
I would disassemble the starter and clean it up, replace the brushes and see if it still works or obtain a good used one and do the same thing to it.
- keithg64
- Posts: 576
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- Location: Geneseo, IL
- Motorcycle: 2007 Gl1800HPNA Blue
2000 GL1500 Pearl Coranado Blue -sold
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
I would take it out, you have to do that anyway if you think that is the problem. Then connect the battery leads and see if it spins. If it does you may have other issues.
What tells you the starter is seized anyway. They are pretty much indestructible.
What tells you the starter is seized anyway. They are pretty much indestructible.
It's not what you buy, it's what you build.
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- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2017 3:54 pm
- Location: Alamogordo, NM
- Motorcycle: 2012 GL1800 IVA
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
Having worked in a DC permanent magnet motor manufacturing factory in a customer service position for 30+ years, I fully agree with JackJohn and Keith64. Remove, disassemble and look for bad or worn parts that can be replaced for little cost. Buying a new starter should be the absolute last resort.
As a side note, when my 2012 was brand new, I was participating in a Christmas parade, and with all the parade noise surrounding me, I did not notice that my starter was continuously running. It was just another parade noise I thought. Halfway through, the bike quit running and would not restart, (somewhat embarrassing) and my Honda dealer (he was in the parade, too) had to come haul me to his shop. The end result was that the starter had self-destructed and fragmented. Fortunately the Honda warranty covered it, and the bike was down for only a week and a half to replace the starter. Honda warranty people indicated they had never previously seen this happen.
As a side note, when my 2012 was brand new, I was participating in a Christmas parade, and with all the parade noise surrounding me, I did not notice that my starter was continuously running. It was just another parade noise I thought. Halfway through, the bike quit running and would not restart, (somewhat embarrassing) and my Honda dealer (he was in the parade, too) had to come haul me to his shop. The end result was that the starter had self-destructed and fragmented. Fortunately the Honda warranty covered it, and the bike was down for only a week and a half to replace the starter. Honda warranty people indicated they had never previously seen this happen.
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- Posts: 147
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
Good thing you didn’t try reverse while it was running, it would have broken the reverse gear inside the engine and the whole engine would have had to be pulled from the frame to replace it.dirtwinger wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:50 pmHaving worked in a DC permanent magnet motor manufacturing factory in a customer service position for 30+ years, I fully agree with JackJohn and Keith64. Remove, disassemble and look for bad or worn parts that can be replaced for little cost. Buying a new starter should be the absolute last resort.
As a side note, when my 2012 was brand new, I was participating in a Christmas parade, and with all the parade noise surrounding me, I did not notice that my starter was continuously running. It was just another parade noise I thought. Halfway through, the bike quit running and would not restart, (somewhat embarrassing) and my Honda dealer (he was in the parade, too) had to come haul me to his shop. The end result was that the starter had self-destructed and fragmented. Fortunately the Honda warranty covered it, and the bike was down for only a week and a half to replace the starter. Honda warranty people indicated they had never previously seen this happen.
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2004 Suzuki DR200
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
I've heard of it a few times. A friend of mine had the same thing happen on his 03, repaired under warranty.dirtwinger wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 12:50 pmHonda warranty people indicated they had never previously seen this happen.
- GoldWingrGreg
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Re: Starter Motor Replacement
I agree ... a good, used OEM part is by far better then an aftermarket part.Techdude2000 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 7:37 pmGo with a good used one. You can easily replace the brushes and springs if needed and they are a permanent magnet type so there’s only an armature that could electrically fail. Are you sure yours is seized up? Have you removed it and taken it apart?
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- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 1:36 pm
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2006 GL1800
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
Well, here's how the story played out.
Before quitting altogether, my starter motor had gone into "constant run mode" similar to what "Techdude 2000" described. Honda Service mechanics removed and inspected it, declared it inoperable, and told me of the back-order on the starters. I had an upcoming ride, and needed the bike operational asap. I found a supplier selling the same part manufacturer as the online Honda OEM sites, at a very good price, and got it the next day. Honda installed it, and I'm riding again. Hopefully it will function as well as the original did for another 12 years!
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
Before quitting altogether, my starter motor had gone into "constant run mode" similar to what "Techdude 2000" described. Honda Service mechanics removed and inspected it, declared it inoperable, and told me of the back-order on the starters. I had an upcoming ride, and needed the bike operational asap. I found a supplier selling the same part manufacturer as the online Honda OEM sites, at a very good price, and got it the next day. Honda installed it, and I'm riding again. Hopefully it will function as well as the original did for another 12 years!
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
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- Posts: 147
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
Did you replace the starter relays too? The “A” starter relay is usually the cause of the run-on starter and if it did it once it will do it again. I usually replace both the A and B relay when this happens.Quinn wrote: ↑Fri Sep 14, 2018 7:51 pmWell, here's how the story played out.
Before quitting altogether, my starter motor had gone into "constant run mode" similar to what "Techdude 2000" described. Honda Service mechanics removed and inspected it, declared it inoperable, and told me of the back-order on the starters. I had an upcoming ride, and needed the bike operational asap. I found a supplier selling the same part manufacturer as the online Honda OEM sites, at a very good price, and got it the next day. Honda installed it, and I'm riding again. Hopefully it will function as well as the original did for another 12 years!
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
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- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 1:36 pm
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2006 GL1800
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
Techdude 2000 wrote:
Did you replace the starter relays too? The “A” starter relay is usually the cause of the run-on starter and if it did it once it will do it again. I usually replace both the A and B relay when this happens.
Yes, the A starter relay was replaced as well.
Did you replace the starter relays too? The “A” starter relay is usually the cause of the run-on starter and if it did it once it will do it again. I usually replace both the A and B relay when this happens.
Yes, the A starter relay was replaced as well.
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- Posts: 147
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
Re: Starter Motor Replacement
Great! Hope your starter holds up.Quinn wrote: ↑Fri Sep 14, 2018 9:48 pmTechdude 2000 wrote:
Did you replace the starter relays too? The “A” starter relay is usually the cause of the run-on starter and if it did it once it will do it again. I usually replace both the A and B relay when this happens.
Yes, the A starter relay was replaced as well.