After buying my GW early last year I noticed that I had to have the battery charged completely or else I would get a slow turn of the starter. Usually this occured in the cooler weather (Canada - 40's) and also if I let the bike sit a day or two. During the summer when it was warm and I was riding the bike every day the problem went away. I would get a good fast spin every time. This bike starts very easily and even with the slow spin it would still catch. Thinking I had an iffy battery I replaced it a couple of weeks ago. I charged the battery fully and put it in with exactly the same results - slow turn first start of the day, then OK. Temps in the 40's not riding it every day. I'm now thinking that I have a weak starter, perhaps a bad spot on the armature? I see they are fairly inexpensive on Ebay. Should this be my next step, or is there something else I should try first such as the starter solenoid? Thanks.
Do I need a new starter?
- Thread starter Jcol
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I find usually a failing starter is the other way, slow crank when hot.
Maybe the oil your running is too thick for those temps?
I think Honda calls for 10/30 or 10/40.
It could be the starter needs a refresh with new brushes and a cleaning is all.
About the Ebay starters,
I've read too many problems with many of them, Chinese knockoffs.
My own experience is one that turned the wrong direction.
IMO Stockers.com is the best way to go for new.
They have a decent price on rebuild kits too.
They build them here in the US. I have a new one from them and it spins the engine faster than it ever did.
Maybe the oil your running is too thick for those temps?
I think Honda calls for 10/30 or 10/40.
It could be the starter needs a refresh with new brushes and a cleaning is all.
About the Ebay starters,
I've read too many problems with many of them, Chinese knockoffs.
My own experience is one that turned the wrong direction.
IMO Stockers.com is the best way to go for new.
They have a decent price on rebuild kits too.
They build them here in the US. I have a new one from them and it spins the engine faster than it ever did.
slabghost
Well-known member
Agreed. You may improve start a bit by cleaning cable end contacts and mount bolt contacts on the starter. That is your ground connection.
I would also clean the contacts in the starter button on the right hahdle bar to insure a cood contact. .02c 
opcorn: opcorn:
opcorn: opcorn:
I have the exact same symptoms as you described on my gl1100. I tried to do the cleanup of the starter as given on this forum o0r perhaps goldwingfacts.com. I bought the kit to replace the parts in the starter. I never did get it to work. So I bought a new starter from dbelectrical.com. The starter worked ever so much better. BUT I have not been able to use it since I bought it.
My bike is in pieces as I am doing the poor boy installation. So I still do not know if my problem is corrected. It does start much easier though.
Keep us posted on what you do and your results as I may need your solution.
My bike is in pieces as I am doing the poor boy installation. So I still do not know if my problem is corrected. It does start much easier though.
Keep us posted on what you do and your results as I may need your solution.
Ouch,,,,,, :shock: I thought we were just talking here. Either way I'll check each area as suggested and report back. Thanks for your input Wilcoy02.RBG":394osxcc said:
