Starter woes.

[tonup69]

Dear Morinists,

I just tried to fix the starter on my 1980 Sport replica (i.e. dressed up Strada). I ordered new seals and a new brass gear for the motor. I had a local shop do the install since I did not have the tools to press off the old gear. Now with everything assembled and a full charge on my Odyssey battery, it still won't crank the engine. It makes a lot of grinding noise and will go about four or five rotations before stopping. I can get a few tries out of the battery (6 or 7) but it wore down the other night so I think something else is wrong. I adjusted the chain with very little play then I tried more play in the chain (better, but still not working). Any other suggestions here? I really want the starter to work since I have aftermarket rear-sets and the kick-start extension installed (pain to use and still doesn't fully clear the heatshield).

Thanks in advance,

LTR in Memphis, TN

[MickeyMoto]

Checked the brushes?

[tonup69]

Checked the brushes?

The knowledgeable guys at NLM said that if the brushes go bad it won't even try to crank over. Easy to replace, but I am trying not to just throw parts at this point. May do it anyway since its cheap.

[MickeyMoto]

Hi,

Checking the brushes is free. You may find checking the commutator and giving it a good clean may help.

Not the best of designs, really, is it?
Mike.

[tonup69]

Hi,

Checking the brushes is free. You may find checking the commutator and giving it a good clean may help.

Not the best of designs, really, is it?
Mike.

Yes, I believe it was designed by a gentleman by the name of Rube Goldberg.

[trinder]

Hi,

Checking the brushes is free. You may find checking the commutator and giving it a good clean may help.

Not the best of designs, really, is it?
Mike.

Yes, I believe it was designed by a gentleman by the name of Rube Goldberg.

I love it He is like our very own William Heath Robinson

[3potjohn]

Make sure the earth connections on the bike are all clean and good.

[tonup69]

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this video I just took should be worth a few quid at least. Here is my starter problem....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlxrL0cH59M

[72degrees]

It doesn't sound happy does it? It's a long time since I had an electric start Morini (though I did have a 79 Sport and a late K2). The advice to check earth connections is very important. The giving up after a while suggests to me that it is a brush problem. As I remember mine they would at least spin ineffectually for quite a while. The battery may be in tip top condition but have you tried a 'jump start' from a car battery (or just a battery from a bigger bike with higher cold cranking amps) to provoke more action? Given the Morini ignition system being independent of the battery you can't do any harm. With ingenuity you may be able to connect straight to the starter to eliminate possible bad earth paths. To be fair though that's easier with engines that have a starter that lives on the outside like a Gilera Nordwest if you see what I mean.

Once it is spinning well and throwing out the three 'shoes' with vigour it may well still not turn the motor over very enthusiastically. I got radical with filing slots in the linings and centre punching the inside of the 'dustbin lid' on mine to give more grip.

[3potjohn]

It sounds like its getting plenty of current.I had to strip my motor apart as it got slower when hot but due to lack of knowledge ended up dropping it off at a local starter motor repair bloke.
£40 later it is a good as it gets,with the later type starter clutch.Except for burning out the relay contacts.I got another high current relay but its still not fitted as it was just a plastic bodied type-didn't look at all weatherproof to me.I've swated blood getting this thing to work.It probably doesn't belong on the bike.
If it were a drawing,I'd rub it out and start again.

[tonup69]

I take it from those two replies that we have moved on from a "mechanical" issue to an "electrical" issue, eh? I have a local starter rewind shop that people say is pretty good. I could have them redo the coil and put in new brushes. After that, I'm a bit stumped. This is already turning out to be an expensive venture ($75 labor and $102 parts so far).

[Emmohaswheelsagain]

Morini generally get things right first time. This was the case with the 3 1/2
Later versions were changed to follow fashion rather then function and the addition of an electric start was
no exception. Most owners store them in the garage or in my case buy a pre electric model.
I do admire your persistence but you are probably destined too fail.
If you succeed please send the story into our editor. It will make a great feature in ATG.
Anyway don't let this small problem get in the way of enjoying a great bike.
You could always convert it back to a Strada and start the bike by more conventional means.

Safe Riding

Paul

[Harry]

As there is no 'seal' as such between the mechanical bit and electrical bit the oil drains into the electrical bit. The oil then combines with the carbon brushes to produce a thick black sludge which seizes the armature. That is the worse case scenario that I have found on customer bikes. Mostly the brushes have worn and not putting enough pressure on the commutator to pass the current and so exacerbates the burning of the brushes. Remove the two long screws from the end of the motor, the electrical bit can then be extracted, you can then assess the wear; if the spring that presses on top the brushes is below the housing then they need replacing. No need for expensive Morini ones, just go to a good auto electrical shop and they will fix you up with ones that fit even if judicial 'tuning required to fit the housing. Clean the commutator with 600grade wet and dry paper and clean with carbon tetrachloride before reassembling. Over here they work out at around £2.50 a pair. The only reason people give up on the starters is ignorance. I have them fitted on all my '500' engines and they work perfectly. Also because the Morini starter switch solenoid won't pass the current without melting, fit one from a Jap Crap bike, mine are from Kawasakis which take the electrical load.

[tonup69]

Since the weather is getting cold - yes, even in Memphis, TN we have winter - I've been thinking about working on this crazy Morini starter again. I guess the good news is that I rode the bike all Summer and Fall with no major issues. I love this bike! I tell everyone I love this bike. If I weren't already married, I would marry this bike!

That being said, even married couples have "issues". Mine is this dam starter! I now have replaced just about everything BUT the clutch shoes (which I dressed last time I was in there with some fine sand paper). It seems like my main issue now is that the clutch won't engage. The starter will turn freely and my battery is an Odyssey model. The relay is the new plastic after-market one.

Am I on the right track here? Should I just go ahead and throw these last parts at the thing? I would really like the starter to work.

Cheers,

LTR

[3potjohn]

Go on then you will have to get the later starter clutch and then see what happens.It fixed mine.