06 apex starter/starter clutch problems

[Firecat_Freak]

So I posted awhile back about the starter sounding bad when turning the motor over. It was recommended to change the starter. I pulled out the bad one and when I turned the gear on the starter by hand I could feel some obvious issues with it, bad bearing or something. I couldn't turn the new Kimpex starter gear at all. I installed the new starter and it started and started normal. No more weird noises. After another 10 starts later, I could hear a goofy noise for a split second after the sled fired up as I am letting go of the starter switch. I just went with it. Now, the wife is riding it and she tries to start it and it just engages, kinda turns the engine over then has a slipping sound. We were out in the middle of no where so we just kept the starter engaged for about 15 seconds and it caught and started. A couple of shut down and restarts later it went from the clutch slipping sound to the starter not working at all. So now I don't know what happened. Did the starter clutch go out too now? I'm getting frustrated. The starter was obviously bad, and I replaced it. But now what? Is this something that is a problem with these sleds?

 

[thor452]

some people have had problems with this but i didnt think anyone had it persist like that. I would take it up with where you got the starter.

 

[Firecat_Freak]

Kimpex starter that I bought from shade tree powersports online. I installed the starter.

 

[Firecat_Freak]

Well the sled is in my shop and I tore into it last night. First was getting to the starter and removing it. The one week old starter is junk! It won't turn over at all. I took off the end cap, and this thing self destructed. There is pieces of magnet stuck in there, and it is basically locked up and won't turn over.

I also gained access to the mag case, removed, and did a visual inspection of the flywheel, and starter gears. I can turn over the engine by hand using the starter gear, and then the clutch will smoothly freewheel in the opposite direction. So obviously i'm not turning the engine/clutch over as fast as the starter does, but it's not slipping at all. But would it slip once a new starter is in there turning it over at full speed?

So my dilemma, do I just pony up, buy a OE starter, and reassemble? Or do I pull the flywheel off, and replace the starter clutch at the same time? Anyone been here done that before with this problem?

 

[Firecat_Freak]

Well, not alot of info on this problem apparently. I've got a new OE starter on order. I'll be putting her back together this thursday after work and we'll see what it does. I should know pretty quickly if the clutch still sounds goofy when the sleds starts up. If it does, then i guess i'll be ordering the clutch and taking the mag case off again. Will a standard flywheel puller work for this flywheel, or do I need the yamaha puller?

 

[yamadog1]

puller

i can't be sure but i would ask your dealer if no one else replys, after spending that much the dealer should tell you.

 

[cannondale27]

I think you may have more than one problem.Your test of the so called clutch (one-way bearing) would satisfy me and I would chance leaving it as is.I would replace or rebuild original starter,replace starter Solenoid and carefully test the key switch to ensure it is not engaging the starter.I would then add Rockmiesters led indicator which shows if starter is running without key engaged.

 

[suprfst]

Im having same issue with a kimplex starter. OEM starter had a dead spot so I installed kimplex and it worked great for a month. Now it acts up when sled is warm, makes a sound like a bad blower motor in a car, that squalling sound. It doesnt always do it and it never does it when sled is cold ,like first thing in the mornings . Im not 100 percent sure its the starter, it kinda seems like it might be the one way clutch. Im very curious as to how new starter works for you as it sounds like same issue im having. I have put 1100 miles on it since it started doing that sound but I just have a feeling sooner or later its not going to catch.

 

[suprfst]

Also when I tore OEM starter apart armature was dirty, it put it in lathe and sanded it just a little to clean it up and brushes were still about 75% there so I put it in trunk just in case. Sled has 10,000 miles.

I put 17000 on my RX1 and starter never missed a beat.

 

[Firecat_Freak]

Got the new Yamaha OE starter installed last Thursday. Fixed the problem. The Kimpex was junk right out of the box. Couldn't turn the starter over by hand, and thought that was the way it should have been. NOT! New yamaha motor could turn over just like any other electric motor. Starter clutch is fine. Already put on another 100 miles and a dozen or so starts. Works and sounds like new.