Honored new owner of Rich Carman's Sym Citycom 300i.... By cavenger (Read 3,836 times)

[Guitarman]

I seem to recall Rich saying something about hiding a kill switch somewhere on the bike. I saw one in the video you posted. I'm not sure if he ever did install it, but it doesn't sound like it's a problem with you getting a solid CLICK when you hit the start button.

Take a big fat wire and bolt it to part of the engine where the starter is and the other end to the neg side of the battery. Then try and start it. If it is a ground issue, that will make it obvious.

[cavenger]

Jul 5, 2015 4:33:11 GMT -6 Guitarman said:

I seem to recall Rich saying something about hiding a kill switch somewhere on the bike. I saw one in the video you posted. I'm not sure if he ever did install it, but it doesn't sound like it's a problem with you getting a solid CLICK when you hit the start button.

Take a big fat wire and bolt it to part of the engine where the starter is and the other end to the neg side of the battery. Then try and start it. If it is a ground issue, that will make it obvious.

Just noting that I already have a dedicated cable running from the start mount to the ground point. Do you think I should run it to the battery instead?

[cavenger]

My ground running from the engine and to the battery are tight and clean now. This has made no difference. I guess it is possible one of the cables is bad. I haven't gotten to the point of testing cables yet.

[cavenger]

Jul 5, 2015 8:59:08 GMT -6 cavenger said:

My ground running from the engine and to the battery are tight and clean now. This has made no difference. I guess it is possible one of the cables is bad. I haven't gotten to the point of testing cables yet.

I have not been able to get the screw driver solenoid jump to do anything. I did just pull the solenoid connections with the exception of the starter switch and tested resistance down to zero.

[cookees]

Personally, I think it just a case of "The Great and Powerfull Old Stinky" coming back to haunt the board. Jus sayin'

[cavenger]

ok i just had another session with it. I pulled the starter again and I hooked up my jumper cables from my car and then hooked up to the positive terminal of the starter and then the negative. Nothing. I tested with my multimeter that I was getting over 12 volts to the starter by touching the terminal (and not touching the positive jumper cable) and touching the body of the starter. I was getting over 12. I tested this several times on my car battery and my bike battery.

Now, remember I did test the starter and it did spin before and did a couple of spins inside the bike. I will say this when I tested it outside of the bike the first time, it seemed slow and then kept speeding up and I let it run for a bit until I thought it was running fast. But there is almost no doubt in my mind the starter is not working right now, no matter what happened before.

Is my local auto parts store going to have the replacement starter?

[tvnacman]

post a picture of the started so we can match it up.

John

[Alleyoop]

So yes it looks like the starter has gone south. Auto parts stores do not have parts for scooters you will have to order one from a scooter parts dealer.
Alleyoop

[cavenger]

I guess j should try to tap this this thing with a hammer a couple of times before I pronounce it completely dead. I'll send a picture shortly. Where do people get sym parts?

[cookees]

Jul 5, 2015 16:47:42 GMT -6 cavenger said:

I guess j should try to tap this this thing with a hammer a couple of times before I pronounce it completely dead. I'll send a picture shortly. Where do people get sym parts?

www.ootyscooters.com

[cavenger]

Here is a video of the starter after I hit it with a hammer a few times. Notice how it winds up and down. It sounds weak and I personally don't think it is the battery. Again, it didn't turn until I hit it with a hammer. Do you guys still think its bad?

[Guitarman]

Sounds like the bearings inside the starter are bad. If so, there's nothing you can do short of rebuilding it. Far far cheaper and easier to get a new one. It should be almost silent.

[cavenger]

Jul 5, 2015 18:05:00 GMT -6 Guitarman said:

Sounds like the bearings inside the starter are bad. If so, there's nothing you can do short of rebuilding it. Far far cheaper and easier to get a new one. It should be almost silent.

Thank you....that is great to have that confirmation from someone before I spend any money on a new one. Here's hoping this fixes it. I will update you once I get the new one in! Thanks everyone!

[cavenger]

Here is a couple of pictures of the starter:

[cyborg]

quite possibly the solenoid is bad