radguzzi

Yup, same here. The starter guy said it was wet so oil for sure. Along with just plain gunk. Over time they just get full of stuff, some of that must be clutch wear...? You bring up a good point regarding oil level. This one, as it sits is not too high but who knows the case history over the past twenty-one years. I always encourage owners to run the level between the hi and lo marks. A tell-tale of over filling is excess oil draining from the filter box and gummed up throttle bodies. All good now. Cheers, Rob

Cool. I retrieved the starter from Gene the Starter Guy. He cleaned the commutator and solenoid, there was a great deal of oil residue and build up of gunk that was getting into the solenoid can intermittently stopping the current from offering full trust to the flywheel. If I understand him correctly... No unglued magnets. I do not see oil from either the engine rear main or trans front seal looking into the starter opening on the engine however, the gunk-up solenoid was the issue. Twenty-on year old Guzzi... I have cycled the starter thirty (30) times and it does not fail to start... I shut the engine off by both the ignition switch and the kill switch, and turned the bars left to right repeatedly looking for wire strain in the switch, it always started. Thanks much for the assistance here. You guys are the best. Rob

See, just as happy that I did not go all cowboy on this and pull the starter apart. If it were mine I would but for fear of causing more damage, I decided to go for a blast and drop it off with Gene. Thanks docc...

No, at least not this one, a Valeo. I pulled the rear cap off and had a peek, two sets of brushes and the associated coiled up wires. I did not dare go any farther for fear of little bits flying all over the place. I wish I had taken a photo or two for the record of the repair. Gene tells me that the solenoid is not straight forward to remove and service, there are two bolts holding it in place, one is accessible from outside the case, the other is inside which forces disassembly of the starter. More later. Thanks audiomick. rad__

I dropped the starter off with Gene, the starter repair guy. It bench tested great of course, no load from a flywheel to stop it. He did go on to say it still May be a magnet or two has come undone... I should have it back in a day or so. Back soon, rad___

I pulled the starter off, I cannot recall what I did when the magnets came unglued on the Quota, years ago. I think Gene the starter guy did the repair... Is disassembly a big ta-do...? Does the starter come apart by removing those three screws on the Bendix end...? Any cautions in pulling it apart...? I pulled the other end cap and there are brushes and all kinds of little bits in there...!

10-4, I may have mentioned that my 2000 Quota had the magnets come unglued but that just stopped, quite abruptly. Boom, done. Ok, going in.. or off actually. I do not recall whether I replaced the starter or had the local generator/starter/alternator repair guy repair it. BTW, yes, the battery is staying up during all this. Appreciate the assist, docc, Rob

@docc That was a read...! Wow...! Ok, I'll pop that ignition switch out and have a peek. It makes sense that wire strain "Could" be the issue although only one time did the starter button go from clicking to starting the engine by turning the front end left to right...

Well. the main ground was not a tight as I would have expected AND the mating surface on the trans had Paint on it, black paint. I was so hopeful that the issue had been found. No. Back to being Mr. Intermittent. At first attempt the familiar click happened, second try she started right up. THird time, click... So : 1 / What am I bound to find or actually look for and test for in the ignition switch...? 2 / Is this an obvious candidate or the Startus Interruptus Fix Kit from MPH...? Edit: I guess to put a finer point on that second question.. Is there testing I can do to prove that any particular component(s) are faulty...? Thanks, rad__

10-4 I should be able to get at the ground later today... fiddly as in hard to get at...? Or get back on...? I did have the presence of mind to back the V11 up onto the lift so that I could get to the ignition switch if need be. Premonition...? More later, Thanks much

Yup, done. The starter spins as it should. So, "Things" it is... We are in the middle of a painting project so I'll get back to the LeMans later today and check on the main ground. Gaining... Thanks

Two things... 1/ - Is the PC 545 the correct Odyssey or the V11...? I use a much larger Odyssey on the EVs and the V1000 Convert. 2/ - Which contact on the starter solenoid...? The lug with the nut or the blade with a connector...? If it is the blade, should the connector be taken off..? Thanks, rad__

Regarding the battery recovering, that is not down too far at 12.04, below that would certainly require a longer charge. I cannot believe that the owner and I have missed that statement. I'll give it one more good charge and when the ground is clean I'll let him know that prolly should get a new battery.

This... I use Odessey batteries in three of my cycles and I have the correct charger for them. It comes up to green on the charge scale in good time, I am not certain why it discharged to 12.04 so quickly, possibly due to my trying to start it for two days...lol Does that 230CCA seem too low to you...?

@docc I put a meter on the battery while cranking, the battery had been depleted to about 12.04 at rest and under cranking it dipped to 10.33. What is that telling me...? ===================== Also, I have not yet tried the jumper. I'll put the battery on a tender for the night and do that in the AM, after checking the main ground. Diggin' the troubleshooting. rad__