Starting problem - R850R

[bazman]

I’m having a starting problem with my 1996 R850R that I cannot seem to solve.

All I get is a single distinct “click” when I activate the ignition. The headlight is bright, fuel injector operates, side stand is up, etc.

Some background if it helps:

1. Bike was stored this winter in a detached garage (Chicago suburbs) and hooked to a battery tender. I started it a few times during the winter without problems.

2. Thinking the battery may have been the problem, I purchased and installed a new sealed model. No change. I had battery tested yesterday at a local Yamaha shop and it tested fine.

3. All the fuses seem fine and there seems to be no single fuse directly related to the starter system.

Any suggestions? I would love to get it started and make a trip to the rally tomorrow.

[queretaro]

If you have a new battery, and your lights and horn work, and the the side stand switch is working properly, and you hear a 'click', I'd check the connections at the starter solenoid. If these are tight, then my next suspect would be the solenoid itself.
Hope this helps get you going.
regards,
Mark

[PGlaves]

I would start at the starter. This symptom sounds very much as if one of the magnets has become loose and is binding the starter.

[bazman]

Thank you both for your replies last weekend.

I finally got the time (and nerve) to pull the starter off this morning. Sure enough, all four magnets are dislodged!

After fishing them out with bent coathanger (I'm sure BMW makes some $100 tool for this) I now need to clean out the starter housing and locate the appropriate glue to use to put them back so I'm not doing this again next year. Looks like the magnets also need to go back in alternating order as indicated by the marks on one end of them.

Anyone been through this drill before before I jump in?

[PGlaves]

I am not at all sure that the magnets can be satisfactorily reglued. Maybe they can. I've never tried because in the cases I've had my hands on the magnets were fractured and broken into pieces by the time I got there.

The dealer price for a new starter is $$$.

There are at least two vendors that sell (or at least used to sell) identical Valeo starters for quite a bit less. The info I have is old but one such vendor was Stocker Starters. 1-888-786-2537 (888-STOCKER)

Another source I have a note on is:

http://www.euromotoelectrics.com/ Use their catalog number BMW-VAL2 starter.

Last I knew either of these vendors could supply Valeo replacement starters for not a whole lot over $200 but that was before the dollar tanked vs the Euro.

What I consider a better option at $350 is the Nippondenso starter sold by Rick Jones at Motorrad Elektrik. See:

http://www.motoelekt.com/oilstarter.htm

I am not a fan og glue to hold starter motors together - although I've been told that Valeo is now using different glue which works better. No first hand experience with a new Valeo starter though.