stater & cold nature issue - strange

[solorogue]

Hey gang, I could use some advise or help on a strange starter issue on my 03' FJR.

The problem I have is that if I have been riding the bike and then stop to get some gas or something,

if I try and start the bike right back up, it cranks slow like the battery is dying. If I switch to neutral it will then turn over ok.

The other issue is that the bike is NOT cold natured at ALL.

As it gets colder in the season the bike acts like the battery is low, and barely turns the bike over to start.

I have a brand new gel battery in the bike.

I ride all year and can not afford to not have the bike fire right up.

I can of course put a trickle charge on the bike, but I ride each day and it shouldn't need it for the amount I ride. (40 miles each day)

Any ideas what might be the problem or has anyone else run into this issue??

I appreciate any help. My naturally aspired Harley would start right up in freezing cold, but my fuel injected FJR is not doing well at all in starting.. very frustrated.

 

[wfooshee]

New battery is not necessarily a good battery.

That said, your symptoms mirror mine from a couple of years ago, and it was the starter itself.

As for the difference between starting in gear on the clutch, or in neutral, there's a lot less gearbox being dragged around by the starter when in neutral, especially if the clutch is sticky and doesn't quite release.

 

[solorogue]

Thanks for the reply. I have confirmed the battery is good. After reading further posts on the forum, I am suspecting the starter. Anyone got a good illustrated/ video tutorial on replacing a starter. I would attempt to do it myself and I wouldn't even know where to begin and what I would need to do. From readings on the forum it sounds like it is a bitch to do.. great! Any "replace FJR starter for Dummies" would be great. I can't afford to take it to the shop, so I would have to do the work myself.

Does anyone know a good vendor to purchase the starter?

I think I will also clean the clutch switch as I have been reading that could cause the issue with the bike not starting well when it is not in neutral, or having a hard time starting after it has run for a bit, and then trying to start up again.

 

[solorogue]

To answer my own question and perhaps help others.. here is a good write-up and pics of removing a starter:\

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=114846&hl=%20replace%20%20starter&st=0

 

[clocklaw]

I was having similar problems with my 2003 a while back...I went through the process....new battery didn't do it...then I had the starter rebuilt and that didn't solve it. I was ready to move on to other parts when I lost the bike...good luck, but I would suggest you look at the electrical components that might be easier to access and test before going to the starter.

 

[wfooshee]

To get to the starter, you have to pull EVERYTHING off the back of the motor. Tank comes off, then the airbox, and then the throttle bodies, which involves a coolant line. Until the throttle bodies come off, you can't even see the starter!

I went there several times during my trials.