Starter Bench Test - Quick Q

[Walking Eagle]

Howdy --

I'm "almost" totally ignorant of electrical issues, so forgive a basic question.

I just R & R-ed my original French starter, and need to bench-test before re-install. It was working fine before I did this, and I fervently hope that it still does. I cracked off a piece of the VERY brittle Bakelite cap that holds the brushes, (be careful of that spring - STRONG - if it slips from your grasp, it can crack the Bakelite) but it was just a small chunk so I think all is well . . .the brush still has plenty of "walls" to hold it firmly in place.

I plan to connect my Odyssey battery (via fused link) to the starter - ground the NEG black wire to the case & connect POS (+) red to the main starter connector.

I think I need to run a jumper from the "little" solenoid terminal blade connector and touch (quick and short) the other end to the POS (+) to actuate the solenoid and test the starter?

Again, I know to just give it a one-second shot, and not crank the thing w/o load.

I guess I'm concerned that this test might by-pass some protective circuit hidden deep within the innards of the fab R1100RS, and end up with French Fry (sorry, couldn't resist.)

THANKS to everyone for all the expert help. I really appreciate it.

Walking Eagle
Tularosa, NM

[MOTORRADMIKE]

Hi Walking Eagle:

Apart from the bit you broke off, the starter motor is probably one of the toughest electrical parts on your bike.
I wouldn't worry too much about hurting it when it's on the bench. I would however, restrain it firmly while testing because when you apply 12V, it will try to start the bike and take off like a helicopter without a tail rotor.

Forget about the fuse.

Negative to case.
The top big bolt is input to the solenoid switch. Positive to that.
Then as you said, a small wire from Positive to the solenoid connection.

Alternately, you can bypass the solenoid and put Positive to the lower big bolt which will test the motor and ignore the solenoid switch.

You can let it spin for many seconds, it won't draw any where near what it draws when it's trying to start the bike.

[ANDYVH]

Why not just install it on the bike and test it? For all the messing around time to figure out how to test it off the bike you can easily mount it and try it.

About three years ago I rebuilt the starter on my 94 RS. The magnets had come loose, so I cleaned everything up and swapped some parts with another salvage starter I had. Installed it, tested it by using it, and its been doing fine now for 30,000 miles.

What is a bench test going to tell you that a on-bike test won't. For that matter, you won't be load testing it on the bench. I say just bolt it in and hit it. Oh, by the way, there is no top-secret protector circuit buried deep with the RS for the starter.

[MOTORRADMIKE]

Andy makes good points.
I have to agree.

Bench testing makes more sense for parts that are more difficult to remove and replace.
The starter comes out and goes in easy.

[Walking Eagle]

It's going to be several days before the bike is back together. The starter is just a part of all the fun. Waiting for bushings and cam chain kit right now.

If I fat-fingered the starter, I'd rather know now, versus after dressing up in funny clothes and getting all excited about a ride and then feeling the agony of defeat.

Thus, the bench test.

Probably more questions to come, and I sure appreciate you guys.

Walking Eagle