Gsxr600: Diagnosing Intermittent Starting

The dreaded "click" after the starter button is depressed. So many things can cause this, so let's check it out.

[@Randy.Kitzmiller]

Thank you so much for the video! I don't think I'd have even attempted to disassemble the starter without this. Saved me a few hundred bucks! Great video. Thanks again.

[@devilsreject320]

Yes you are a legend. Got gsxr 750 yesterday got home arrr. Now thanks to you 😁 today it's alive! Really good content fantastic. 4500 grand lo 40000 mile 2011 been a commuter. Plus dicky starter motor.

[@kevmeister3063]

Hahah man I loved this video. Not just for the learning aspect of it, but your wording and references!! Top notch buddy keep it up!

[@themotofirm]

Appreciate the comment dude, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Mc-ug8cj]

Excellent video, just helped me fix mine. Wouldn’t start all of a sudden, found exactly the same problem. Sorted the spring loaded motor brush and the bike fired into life.

[@Shill63]

Starter motor would turn engine over for maybe 1 second then nothing, tried another battery still the same, just about to order a starter motor then saw your video, took it out & was exactly the same as yours with the brush stuck in & the commutator dirty cleaned & freed up as per your video all back together this evening & works better than it ever has ,thankyou so much for the expert advice saved me buying another motor cheers again

[@themotofirm]

Funny how I’d never seen this happen personally, but apparently it is a thing. Glad this helped!

[@Lukeon2]

I can't thank you enough for this video!! Same exact issue with my 2006 ZX10r, one loud click per starter button press. Replaced multiple starter relays yet still the same problem. Opened up the starter motor finally and there was a bunch of dust from the worn brushes. They were so worn that they were not making contact with the commutator, hence the no start condition. Replaced the brush assembly, reinstalled, and started up 3 times after to make sure. I think I'm in the clear, fingers crossed.

[@themotofirm]

Sounds like you found it if they weren’t touching. Glad it helped!

[@mikailbrown1241]

were you able to push start it ?

[@Lukeon2]

@@mikailbrown1241 I was able to push start it yes

[@JustinKeithD]

Oh I see what you've done...you've saved me infinite frustration is what you've done. THANK YOU.

[@themotofirm]

Right on glad it helped!

[@OVB_NL]

Really great video - ive got a 2007 GSXR wit 25k miles. I've just got back from the second track day where my bike stopped wanting to start mid way through the day - grrrr - but at least on the 2nd track day i found out it would jump start fine. I can hear the fuel pump priming, the dash is on, the headlight flickers but not a peep from the starter motor...then wait an hr or 2, and hey presto she starts perfect. I've already changed my clutch switch, the kickstand switch has been cleaned and doesn't seem to be a factor, and the fuse in the starter relay is also ok. I'm going to take the starter motor out and hope to find similar things that you did and get her running again. Thanks for making this video...not a huge amount of views yet but this will help me no end....THANKS!

[@themotofirm]

Definitely could be the same issue, hope you get it sorted and thanks for the kind words!

[@netwatch7261]

What did it end up being? The stator or regulator? I have the same bike. I'm about to move the regulator due to all the complaints about the rate of failure.

[@deanbesley6041]

Thx mate! Saved me time and money! Thx for taking the time and sharing.

[@japfourme381]

I have a 2002 ZXR400L9 and I am pretty sure this is what my problem is! When I push in the starter button sometimes it seems to make a connection and other times nothing seems to happen. If I keep trying the button it will again make a connection and start, so it is intermittent. I have noticed though when I first noticed this problem the starter button had to be pushed further in before it energises the relay to start. I have checked and changed the relay but the problem persisted. Prior to this problem I did have a lot of other carb issues trying to start the bike so the starter was having a lot of overuse. I will try another starter see if it cures the problem. Thanks mate!! Update:- This turned out just to be dirty contacts in the switch itself. Bike starts every time now!!

[@treintasosa8929]

Was having the same issue thanks to your video my bike is fixed

[@larrymckenna3503]

very thorough explanation nothing forgotten !

[@Steve-XTC67]

Great persistence and duly rewarded!

[@j-rodfpv1137]

Great video , really helped me get my head around what I need to do..

[@themotofirm]

Awesome hope it helps

[@superbiketech]

Thanks bro, my buddies 2018 GSXR has an intermittent starting issue and I think this is the problem.

[@Sway1177]

Awesome thorough vid !

[@themotofirm]

Thank you!

[@chrismunos7741]

THANK YOU!!! Exactly what my problem was!

[@themotofirm]

Sweet! Glad it helped

[@Supra7501]

This happened to mine as well Thanks for the help easy fix

[@themotofirm]

Right on, wondered how common this would be 👍

[@CarbonSharky]

Thanks for the great video! My k7 750 is having a starting ill be checking this weekend great video bub!

[@CarbonSharky]

Well took my starter out cleand it everything look good... But still having a issue starting when its warm... Battery is good relay clicking...

[@themotofirm]

Sounds like a poor main wire connection rather than a switch, such as the ground. Make sure the starter will reliably jump if you bypass the relay.

[@jaydawg7200]

​@@themotofirm I bypass the relay and still no crank😢

[@themotofirm]

If you’re supplying direct power to the motor and your starter ground connection is good, I’d think it’s the starter itself. Did you test run the starter motor when it was out?

[@NO-WARNING-SHOTS]

Dude is rocking the hell outta that mullet 😎

[@themotofirm]

Hell yeah brother

[@KingOfTheCurves]

I bought a used gsxr750 with those same levers I got mad after having to bump start the bike about 5 times I called the guy I bought it from wondering why it wouldn’t start come to find out I had the clutch lever to far in when I squeezed the lever it wasn’t engaging the clutch safety switch

[@DrzPr3ttyBoy]

Dude great job 👍🏼

[@themotofirm]

Thanks 🙏

[@larrymckenna3503]

brilliant thank you ive the same problem atm !

[@themotofirm]

Hope it helps!

[@mluna69]

Thank you for this

[@olly2884]

Hi great video, just a quick one as i think my starter is going the wrong direction.. which way did yours spin? Thanks

[@themotofirm]

Honestly I don’t know, and I couldn’t tell in the video. I’m not sure how it would be going backwards but one way to check would be to look inside the inspection cap on the right side at the crank. Pretty sure the crank should be turning clockwise (forward) when you tap the starter.

[@Katanabroman]

Awesome!

[@angeldiaz9870]

Okay so I have not checked the starter motor yet. But my bike will turn over if I hold the starter button long enough but then after the second try that I turn it off and back on it won’t turn on anymore. It’s not the relay I checked that. Definitely a electrical issue.

[@themotofirm]

Try touching a wire to the starter connection directly from the battery to see if it’ll turn every time or if it’s intermittent there.

[@kieronzzz3319]

Hey I think I’m having the problem gsr 750 of I’ve changed stator, battery, and rectifier.. it starts and stays charged but when I turn it off after riding and turn on and try start it just acts asif the battery’s dead trying to turn over. Have to keep turning on and off to quickly starts before it dies

[@kieronzzz3319]

Will also bump start everytime

[@desiIrish1]

I am having the same issue on gsxr 600 K6 @themotofirm@@kieronzzz3319 did you get it sorted?

[@michaelkwiatkowski5051]

What did you use to sand the copper down with?

[@themotofirm]

Something finer like 800-1000 and/or scotch brite. You just want to clean and shine it, not remove much material. Then spray it clean with electrical contact cleaner.

[@fredrodriguez84]

I just replaced my battery, brand new lithium, bike turned on first try, took it out for a ride, ran fine. Bike was off for like 2hrs, go to turn it on and nothing. Key turns to on positioning and activates electrical features in the speedometer. Kas soon as I push the kill switch down to start hearing the engine prime , it turns off all the electrical , I let it sit for a while longer , now when I switch the kill switch down to start the engine primethe speedometer flickers now...I have no idea wtf is wrong...2002 suzuki gsxr 600...plz help lol

[@themotofirm]

Not sure on that, might be a good idea to test the voltage regulator and stator. Manualslib probably has a manual for that bike. Sounds like your battery isn’t charging/is being drained. Good luck

[@fredrodriguez84]

@@themotofirm I put my old battery in and it started the bike right up, im hearing a clicking though when it starts. Almost like something is shorting or touching something it shouldn't

[@themotofirm]

Have to just go through and check connections/components. It may just not like the lithium battery. Or your starter solenoid could be bad/sticking which would drain the battery and cause clicking.

[@nonyahbiznezz9094]

5 minutes into video I can see your brush is worn down completely. Plus the rotor is cooked. Notice how curved the surface is. It used to be straight and taller. The brushes dug out a groove while they cooked it roasted brown like coffee beans!

[@themotofirm]

Yes they’re curved...they’re soft copper and ride directly on a round surface. The “groove” is just a dirty area from them rubbing. Where the contact was stuck is how much more life those have, which is quite a bit. This method works fine if you don’t have time or money to get a new motor, or just don’t want to waste it. Take care!

[@nonyahbiznezz9094]

@@themotofirm Thanks for explanation.

[@toddstahley4256]

How long did it last after you fixed it?

[@themotofirm]

Bike is sold, but the only problem with it was being dirty (there was plenty of life on the brushes) so it should last a while.

[@MrFinno89]

Great video thanks from Ireland how long did it last ?

[@themotofirm]

I no longer own the bike but it should last a while, there was plenty of life left in those brushes.

[@MrFinno89]

@@themotofirm thanks for the reply man best wishes

[@flyingiguana409]

anyone know what could be my issue? sometimes i have to wiggle the handle bars before it will start. when i click the starter button, nothing happens, no clicks no thing. sometimes it works fine, other times i need to move the handle bars then it starts easily.

[@themotofirm]

Possible you have a loose connection or damaged wire around the steering neck. You might even have the same problem as I did and wiggling the bars may be enough to move the contact. Narrow down the problem area by eliminating the parts of the system that are working properly as I did in the video. You can also use a voltmeter to check for proper continuity in the switch, etc.

[@flyingiguana409]

@@themotofirm i have shorty levers on the lowest settings. if i move it to the highest setting it starts up easily. kinda weird.

[@themotofirm]

Definitely check your clutch switch