Hitchcocks Forum

Sorry if this has already been discussed - but - my 2011 EFI electric starter has stopped working. It just "growels" when you push the button (the relay under the seat seemingly not clicking in properly). I bought a new battery, fully charged it and still the same noise, so I assumed the worst and bought a new starter relay, fitted it, checked all connections were good - earth etc, still the same noise from the relay.
I removed the motor and, using the old battery, bench tested it and the motor spun fine, I connected the motor to the leads on the bike (just laid on the back of the engine and got the growling/vibrator sound again. Finally I disconnecter the starter motor again and just pushed the starter button and there was the sort of normally expected single click from the relay as it fired the contacts in.
Totally bemused now, does anyone have any ideas please?

I'm sure someone with more knowledge of the EFI will be along shortly, but it sounds like the sprag clutch may have breathed it's last gasp.

This sounds like a failed sprag clutch. Replaceable with some spannering. Yours is probably the older design which was prone to failure. The newer ones seems much better.

Hang on Den and Thack, didn't he say the motor was connected but just laid on the engine as if on the bench..

Sounds like voltage resistance somewhere, try checking the earth lead frame to battery. these terminals seem to come adrift regularly, most have been resoldered or modified.

Hi folks, thanks for answering. Yes the motor just laid "free" on the bike but connected to the wires growled. Now I did remove the cover on the geartrain and the gears rotated freely backwards and locked up forewards, I assumed (dangerous to assume I know) that was how it should be. I will re-try the motor laid free on the bike again tomorrow just to double check.

What bothers me is, "bench tested it and the motor spun fine, I connected the motor to the leads on the bike (just laid on the back of the engine and got the growling/vibrator sound again."

That does not sound like the Sprague but more like a wiring problem or grounding fault.



Do check the battery and frame connections, especially the big leads which power the starter. Because you have replaced the battery and may have dropped one of the leads from it, or it was already off with the old battery. You should have a big thick black wire from battery to frame (probably well hidden) and a thick red lead from battery via starter relay to starter motor terminal; these leads must be low resistance, trace with an ohmmeter.

Gwilly you are correct, note to self, read the post properly.

I, too, stand corrected. Sorry, I was in too much of a rush.



I agree - this sounds like it could be the typical solenoid chatter which you get with a flat battery, except the battery isn't flat. Could be a high resistance in the starter circuit or anywhere in the earth return. I think that's most likely.

Ray, I had exactly the same on my 2011 C5 - its the battery. Buy a decent 14Ah from our hosts and it will be fine. My previous battery registered a PD of 12.2v and wouldn't turn it over. If the original batt has been in since new then 4-5 years is an absolute max and its not unknown for (Indian made) batteries to fail after 2-3 years.

Thanks everyone - nigelphoto I will definately check that bit, as I said I more or less knew the battery was on its way out so I bought a supposedly top replacement sealed paste battery two weeks ago - charged it as instructions - and it still did the same thing. Bench testing the motor on the old battery worked fine, but the battery ran down quickly as expected. The new battery fully charged off load gives 12.64 volts but may not be performing so I will check it again tomorrow and if necessary send for another from Hitchcocks. I will let everyone know the outcome.