Bandit starter motor and relay problems

[Mr Hammers]

Went to start the Bandit, but something just clicked when i hit the start button and all the ignition lights went out.

While i was pulling out the wiring i noticed the ignition lights came back after a few minutes, but if i tried the starter, or even just pulled the front brake, the lights would go out again (but not the indicators oddly).

Got it home, took off the starter and it turns by hand but has that bumpy feel when turning...not sure if that's normal or not?

Anyway, put it back on so i could get to work by bumping it again and so it didn't leak, and now when i turn the ignition on, the lights look like they're off, but gradually get brighter and brighter and after a few minutes, suddenly ping back up to full brightness.

So, question is, what could be causing the dim to bright ignition lights, and is my starter motor properly kaputt?

Oh, should add that for some reason, there was a 150amp fuse in the starter relay, which may have some bearing.

Any help much appreciated! Cheers!
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[monkeybiker]

Have you checked the battery voltage and charging system.

[Val]

[Major Doss]

Put the proper rated fuse where required, try again. Nothing should be fuse rated @ 150A.
When it goes pop, find the short. Effect repair. Bosh.
BTW a 'lumpy' feel on turning a starter motor by hand is good. Big magnets live (as in 'reside') inside.
A quick check on SM brushes on the way out is to bung it in gear, rock forwards or back, try starter again. A short tap with something stout on the end of the SM should keep it going for a week or so. It has worked for me for the last 3 months...

[Mr Hammers]

Cheers for all the suggestions, guys. Tried everything, took the starter apart which was a bit of a job (actually the taking apart was easy, it was the putting back together which was the difficult bit - had to make 4 brackets to hold the brushes in, it was a doddle after that), checked all the connections and everything seems to be fine.

Ran the starter off a car battery to test - didn't realise you could do this without frying the bike electrics! and it worked ok, then ran everything off the car battery and what do you know, it all worked perfectly.

Feel a bit daft finding that it was just the battery was knackered after checking everything else, but i've never had a battery go like that before. It appeared to be fine up until that point so i convinced it was a problem somewhere else.

So, put a new one in today and she fires up like a good 'un. Sorted.

Thanks again, all! Much appreciated!
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[Ariel Badger]

Your battery is paper-weighted, buy a new one.
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