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From: donch@tekirl.UUCP (Don Chitwood)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: another starter problem; a started problem.
Message-ID: <192@tekirl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Sep-86 13:20:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekirl.192
Posted: Fri Sep 19 13:20:30 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Sep-86 18:09:07 EDT
References: <5301@decwrl.DEC.COM> <572@imagen.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR
Lines: 31


My Guzzi periodically has a similar set of symptoms.  I discovered the
cause and it's fairly easy to fix.
The Guzzi's starter is a spittin' image of a standard car starter, except
that it's about 1/2 the size.  As such, it uses a standard type solenoid
that functions both to engage the starter gear with the flywheel and to
make connection with the battery directly to the starter motor.  The
contacts inside the solenoid were at fault.  By taking out two screws
that hold the end-cap onto the solenoid, then unsoldering the two wires
that are fastened to the spade-lugs on the end-cap, the contacts inside
the solenoid are revealed in all their ugliness.  When the described
problem arises, these contacts are invariably much blackened and making
dubious contact.  I take some sandpaper and clean them up real good,
reassemble it, and have no more problems for another 20,000 miles or so.

Sometimes, when my battery is low for various reasons, the solenoid will
clatter--oscillate like a vibrator--because of too little juice.  The only
cure then is to trickle-charge the battery, get a jump-start from a car,
or bump-start the bike.  I've done all three, each at least once under
adverse conditions (try bump-starting a 525-lb bike in a level parking lot
in 95 degree heat!)

Regarding treatment of me on my bike by cops, I've only had one really
bad experience and it was not abusive but rather legalistically rigorous.
Another cop stopped me for speeding once and spent a good 20 minutes talking
computers and hi-tech stuff.  He was very interesting, but I think he was
also trying to slow me down by taking time to be casual.  He also gave me
a ticket!  Several cops
have stopped me to warn me against speeding even tho they admitted they
hadn't gotten a reading on me (they were right; my most comfortable speed
owing to a vibration minimum is 65-70 mph.)