starter not engaging

[Iahawk]

I had my first issue with my '10 People S200 (2300 miles)...it appears the starter is not fully engaging(?) Tried to start it over the lunch hour and the starter did turn the motor, briefly, but it didn't start (not surprising since it's been 2 or 3 weeks since I've ridden it)

The next few times I hit the starter button I could hear the starter turning but it wasn't turning the motor. I've experienced this on older snowblowers where the electric starter  needed to be cleaned and lubed for it to work properly..the little gear that extends out to engage the motor gets stuck..

I started the scooter with the kick starter but I'd sure like to be able to use the electric starter! Is this just a case of needing to do some cleaning and lubing of the starter?

Any other suggestions?

thanks!

[blue]

Could be yes.that or replace the starter bendex.

[Mr. Paul]

Try gently tapping the starter. Could be a stuck Bendex.

[Iahawk]

thanks for the replies...have been on youtube looking at videos of starters, bendix's,starter replacements, etc.! Wife thinks I'm nuts!

The starter is not real accessible...would have to pull the plastics to gain good access...will try to give it a few whacks...it all else fails I see a new starter at Kymco parts monster is $81....could be a winter project...hmmmmm.....

[LidoCA]

Old cars, same problem. Block of wood and a hammer. Hit the solenoid. It is not energizing.

[TroutBum]

How old is the battery? Put it on a trickle charger or tender or have a parts store load test it. Check the battery leads for corrosive build up. Clean posts and connector if necessary and use a bit of dielectric grease. Check the connection at the starter motor. Remove connector and clean with a little rubbing alcohol, but do this only after disconnecting the battery to prevent damage.

[Iahawk]

thanks, guys, more good stuff to work on...from whacking the solenoid to cleaning all the connections. Battery is not original but not sure how old it is..I plug it into a battery tender jr every week or 2 to keep it charged up..I should be able to do most of this tomorrow and I'll report back what I find..thanks

[Iahawk]

to follow up from yesterday...first time I hit the starter today it fired up...turned it off and tried again and starter spun but not motor. 3rd time starter turned over the motor.

So I cleaned and tightened all of the electrical connections at battery, solenoid and starter, putting some dielectric grease on all of them. Also whacked on the solenoid and starter for good measure...hit the starter and it fired up. Repeated 3 times and it started each time..so I don't really know if i fixed it or not...guess I'll know in the Spring, as I put the scooter to bed for winter (oil change, fogged cylinder, drained carb, filled tank with ethanol free fuel with marine stabil.)

I see where the starter solenoids are cheap, if I end up needing one, and generic GY6 150cc starters are 30 something dollars (vs $81 for Kymco starter online). Does anyone know if a generic GY6 starter works on the people S200 with 163cc?

[Mr. Paul]

Thanks for the update. I suspect you have solved the problem. Good job.

[Iahawk]

after looking in the service manual and online it appears that another cause of the starter spinning but not the engine could be due to a bad starter clutch. Having never heard of this I did a little digging..it seems like the starter has a fixed shaft, not like old school ones where the little gear popped up. The starter motor gear connects to another gear that will turn a gear attached to the starter clutch.

It looks like the starter clutch is a centrifugal clutch that fits over the crank under the stator, flywheel and fan. When the starter turns it, it must grab onto the crank to turn the engine over.

Not sure exactly how it would go bad but there are a few youtube videos showing the replacement on 150cc gy6 motors, so it must be somewhat common.

 Anyone familiar with exactly how these starter clutches work?

[Stig / Major Tom]

With a weak battery...that starter clutch may not be getting enough to engage. I'd  have battery load tested....and if it was my scoot with an unknown battery age, I'd  replace it when funds avail. for a good YUASA. Battery tender hooked to a sick battery might be a fooler. Test, or replace, your power source.
Stig

[Iahawk]

sound advice, Stig. Batteries are relatively inexpensive and that would be cheap insurance.

[Iahawk]

Wanted to give some closure to this one...my problem was indeed a bad battery. There wasn't enough juice to turn over the starter. A new Yuasa battery did the trick. Fires right up...took the scoot out for first rides of the season yesterday and today...man, it feels good to be back riding!

[TroutBum]

Happy ending. Enjoy your riding season. Here in Northern California the rains started up again.  Looks like next week the sunshine returns.