Starter Only engages 1/3 of the time .

[noobi]

I guess I'll see how the bike performs when warm as it's always been a little better then, but right now I'm pretty disappointed.

You shouldn't be using the e start when the bike is cold. Its a sure fire way to ruin it.

 

[VxZeroKnots]

Seriously?

How so? Like drain the battery or break pieces?

I've never heard that before nor recall seeing it in the owners manual.

Care to explain?

Thanks again.

 

[rosco]

Never heard that one before. One thing you don't want to do on a cold engine is crack the throttle while trying to start it. This packs too much air into the cylinder and can give you a lean backfire. This is hard on the gears on electric start systems and hard on the knees on kickstart systems. Ha!

 

[noobi]

Seriously?

How so? Like drain the battery or break pieces?

I've never heard that before nor recall seeing it in the owners manual.

Care to explain?

Thanks again.

Its from my experience with the KTM starter, so if those who have seen both think they aren't the same, then disregard this.

I guess it also depends on how often you service the starter system too.

Generally, theres a bit more effort to start the bike when cold, either more kicks or stronger kicks or whatever.
The starter its self isn't a particularly strong system, the gears are weak and so is the bendix. So in my mind loading it up for often extended periods of cranking while cold isn't exactly good for it and promotes wear on the parts that are more prone to wear out. In an ideal words, you could cold crank to your hearts content, although more often than not, in my experience at least, the bike doesn't start from cold within 2-3 seconds on the starter.
Guess what im saying is if you have to hold the starter on for extended periods of time, usually this happens with a cold engine, don't be surprised if it wears out prematurely.

I have seen people run the battery on 2 stroke KTMs flat from trying to start the bike from cold. I agree that not starting easily is a jetting thing though.

I guess its just my opinion on the starter system on the KTM and GasGas. They are pretty shit, so I try and give it the least amount of abuse I can, because I want it to work half way up a hill or in a bog, not in the carpark.

 

[Neil E.]

My starter is fine when the bike is warm. Still a bit iffy when it's less than 50 degrees F outside. Took three tries for it to engage the morning of the last ride, but it was perfect for the rest of the day. As long as it engages, the bike starts fine.

I could maybe stretch the spring more, but it works so well after warmup, that I'm leaving it alone. As to the backlash (with bendix cammed out and taped open for checking play through the top opening), anything close to 1/32 free play should be fine. Too little play and the bendix is slow to release after starting (has never happened to me). The play would have to be grossly large to cause excess wear on the gear teeth.

Using the kicker for the first start of the day is still a good idea, but I'll just replace the bendix and ring gear if I ever wear them out. I consider the kicker a backup if I run the battery down. It is also handy for maintenance work. I'm happy to have the kick starter and wouldn't buy a bike without one.

 

[VxZeroKnots]

Thanks a ton Neil, it was probably 40 degrees F tops in my garage, and 22 degrees F outside. I'll take her for a spin this weekend and let the motor warm up before I tear into it again. Previously it did operate better on a warm engine and seems to have a slight improvement currently when cold so perhaps I'll be good to go.

I agree with noobi, I don't care how I have to start it in the parking lot with a cold engine but on the side of some hill climb from hell I want it to fire on the button.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[VxZeroKnots]

So I got out today and was able to ride it. With a warm engine the starter worked 95% of the time. Better than it ever has. I think I'll try polishing the gear faces and see if that gets me a couple more percent. To it's credit I think my clutch fluid needs changed/bled as my clutch has become much more grabby when stopped than it previously has been. All in all I'm pretty happy.

 

[bigtoe]

ec 300 starter problem

hi, mine stopped engaging, only making whirring noise, bendix clutch rooted, bought a new bendix from gas gas parts .com in sydney for $250, installed and all my problems go away, starting cold choke only , no throttle starts after 2 0r 3 attempts, when hot, no choke little throttle starts instantly. I love my gasser

 

[Bobt250]

Those large shims/washers in the pictures go between the ring gear and the flywheel to decrease the space between the ring gear and the bendix pinion gear. If you need them. In my case they weren't enough so I had to add more than those two.

 

[iamovru]

Its from my experience with the KTM starter, so if those who have seen both think they aren't the same, then disregard this.

I guess it also depends on how often you service the starter system too.

Generally, theres a bit more effort to start the bike when cold, either more kicks or stronger kicks or whatever.
The starter its self isn't a particularly strong system, the gears are weak and so is the bendix. So in my mind loading it up for often extended periods of cranking while cold isn't exactly good for it and promotes wear on the parts that are more prone to wear out. In an ideal words, you could cold crank to your hearts content, although more often than not, in my experience at least, the bike doesn't start from cold within 2-3 seconds on the starter.
Guess what im saying is if you have to hold the starter on for extended periods of time, usually this happens with a cold engine, don't be surprised if it wears out prematurely.

I have seen people run the battery on 2 stroke KTMs flat from trying to start the bike from cold. I agree that not starting easily is a jetting thing though.

I guess its just my opinion on the starter system on the KTM and GasGas. They are pretty shit, so I try and give it the least amount of abuse I can, because I want it to work half way up a hill or in a bog, not in the carpark.

A KTM starter is a restarter and they usually will not start the bike cold. Most of the time , they engage just like the Gas Gas (They Dont). I have never seen a 2T KTM start cold from just the starter. Although I will say that I have two friends with new Beta 300`s and they do start cold every time. I am assuming because Beta built their starter to work as part of the motor and not an after thought.

 

[nato]

Where can i get hold of the gaskets to space out my starter system? For the ring gear gap.

 

[Neil E.]

Where can i get hold of the gaskets to space out my starter system? For the ring gear gap.

I don't know about the shim supply, maybe a dealer or GoFasters. First try the system with no cover gasket to see how much it changes. The best way is to tape the bendix open and feel for play at the top gear. You want a noticeable back and forth, say not exceeding 1 mm.

If it looks good this way, use silicone on the cover as your sealant. Just make sure the starter motor is relatively vertical. Keep in mind that the starter only drives the upper gear and doesn't have to be perfect. With the cover bolted on, the starter motor should lift up and down (grease the oring). As long as you have some freedom of movement, it should be OK.