Devon TRF Group Forum

Harty · Devon's Best

GAS GAS starter motor.

northern john · Clubman B

Hi Again folks. I recently posted as a new member and was asking about ride outs and was keen to get out as soon as my bike (gas gas 400fse 2002) was back from the MOT. Well after spending quite a lot more than expected on new battery,bearings, a bit of rewiring and all the labour etc,Im now told that the starter motor has thrown in the towel. It will bump start ok and run fine but Im not about to start green laning if the only method of starting is to bump it.And to make matters worse the kick start seems to be shot as well and slips when kicked over. So I was wondering if any of you lovely people have any starter motors for sale,can recondition or repair them or offer any other remedies. (and dont say buy a KTM.lol.) Im based just outside Tiverton and open to all offers. Thanks John.

Harty · Devon's Best

Its the same starter motor as a DRZ400 if that's any help, but just to forewarn you, it may not just be the starter motor!

northern john · Clubman B

Oh right cheers. Ill look into it. what else could it be then? or do I not want to know? Cant face spending a load of money on a motor then having to shell out on other stuff. cheers.

northern john · Clubman B

Bloody hell harty I dont like the sound of this. sounds far too expensive for me. I only got the bike as everyone told me green laning was a cheap little past time. HUH! had my zx6r for 6 years now and thrashed it everywhere in the red and its never once had a problem. I buy a (bulletproof) bike and it wont even start. Would you reccomend fitting the DRZ400 starter motor myself first or taking it somewhere?? Oh and what year starter motor would match my 02 bike? Thanks again. Glad someone knows something. John

Harty · Devon's Best

Send Devondan a pm as he knows more than I do and may suggest something else or may even have a spare starter to try as he has a 400 FSE

Nige · Expert

Dont know if the starter fits but all DRZ400 starters are the same. I'd use drz to replace the bike smile .

Has it had injection problems ie starting? Because DRZ's dont suffer from starters.

Ads · Clubman B

Hi Northern John, and a hello from Cornwall, I think if you want to keep your greenlaning cheap i would get rid of the Gasser and get a TTR,,XR,,DRZ,, ETC ETC ETC but not a gasser, GAS GAS TAKES YOUR CASH CASH!!!!!!

hope this helps cheers Ads.

northern john · Clubman B

well it sounds like I might have to get rid of the gasser before it bankrupts me eh? What about the honda xr's then? and the DRZ? cant face problems every week. And doesnt bode well when Ive not even been out to do any damage yet :(
Any of you folks got a drz starter motor for sale then? or a bike? cheers

RichT4 · Champion

You need to speak to Dan, or do some searching on here.
I'm not sure the GG starter is the same as the DRZ starter but on the DRZ it isn't roasted buy the exhaust header so that might be the issue.
GG's have a bad rep but after sorting out initial electrical issues Dans' bike has been fine, I think...

Also I'm not sure who told you GG's are bullet proof but I think you are starting to realise they aren't
XR's, DRZ's and a few others are, GG's... No sir! Not the 4 strokes anyway...

Nige · Expert

Gasgas is a great bike if your a bike geek ie do your own work and love to fettel.

northern john · Clubman B

well Im ashamed to say my bike fettling is fairly limited. OK with maintenance etc but I do learn fast so if there is any savvy spanner weilders in the area Im always keen to learn. Been a biker all my life and spent 20 odd years on a BMX but the bdy has had enough of pedlin' now which is why I got the dirt bike. The weird thing about the starter is that the bike does start ok with a push so maybe it is just the starter motor???

devondan · Champion

You have PM! the DRZ starter fits but the wire exits are slightly different. Harty's bike is a 450 which was a bit different. First things first is to check out the starter and maybe fit a new brush plate, I did and it fixed mine but my battery does have to be kept on an optimate so it starts from being left for a week or two. Once its warm its fine. It seems that the system is only just up to cranking a cold motor, the trick is to do it in short bursts, set the throttle with the little stop then don't touch it until its running.

Having fixed that I've had 3 or 4 years of relatively trouble free riding, the only probs I have had are a lose battery connection (my fault) a broken ignition wire - my fault after I soldered in a power outlet for a sat nav and a new starter solenoid (£5) otherwise its just been oil filters, swing arm bearings and disc pads oh and a repair to the rear mudguard support cause by a badger. To be honest it didn't cost me too much and if it died tomorrow it will still have cost me less than the depreciation on a newer bike.

northern john · Clubman B

Hi Dan I have just sent you a PM. Just a quick one though. You said to set the throttle with the little stop. Is that the little switch thats attached to it and kind of clicks into position? And I take it your fires up with no throttle on as advised? Time to give thor a call eh? Thanks J

devondan · Champion

Yes I push the button to open it the throttle a little then press the starter without giving it any more throttle. It will usually fire a couple of times before catching and going. Once warm it starts first time

Dan

Harty · Devon's Best

This what you could do with John wink

northern john · Clubman B

tee hee. Just been down halfords and they've sold out. Bastards!!!

Biff · Expert

Have been down this long and emotional / expensive road twice
First bike XR 250 ace bike , great laner. Kickstart shaft / casing gave up in north devon

Spent a few quid on sorting, when chucking notes in the air would give the same result

Then a neighbour mentioned he had a 450 GasGas for sale £1200,nice Sus , nice power

He did mention it could be a bugger to kick , but I was sold.
Anyhow , few rides later she played up,in my case was sprag clutch, which can be fecked by the engine
Going backwards VERY SLIGHTLY ON START UP and causing chaos with the one way clutch
Down @ Thor choice between more cash in the air or new bike
Took the trade in choice and got myself a GasGasEC300

Happy days

Simple maintenance air filter / oil change all thread locked,

Not the cheapest route

But I'm happy now

Biff

Ads · Clubman B

I paid £2500 for my ec300 and spent £2500 on it in 12mouths, but boy i have had some fun!!!

Schoe000 · Expert

Ads wrote:
I paid £2500 for my ec300 and spent £2500 on it in 12mouths, but boy i have had some fun!!!

Bloody hell Adam!

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

Schoe000 wrote:
Ads wrote:
I paid £2500 for my ec300 and spent £2500 on it in 12mouths, but boy i have had some fun!!!
Bloody hell Adam!

Bloody hell Adam +1 You should have bought a Honda had mine over three years and apart from servicing have spent jack **** smile

jt · Powermonger!!

Ads wrote:
I paid £2500 for my ec300 and spent £2500 on it in 12mouths, but boy i have had some fun!!!

Holy cow ashamed

Ads · Clubman B

Yes i know they all seen be coming, mug comes to mind. the only way that i make my self feel better about it is the money i have saved by not greenlanig or doing MX years ago.

devondan · Champion

What did you spend £2500 on?!

Ads · Clubman B

Got a pile of invoices i have kept and if i went and added it all up i think it would be closer to £3000, eye watering! lots of it being labour, i did buy a new seat and a 13 liter tank so that would be £350, two lots of hand guards!!!, set of foot pegs, two lots of fork seals, 4 or 5 sets of pads, chains etc, top and bottom of engine, loads of oils and filters, 3 spark plugs, 3,or 4 sets of tyres 3 or 4 tubes and slime Mooses which i wished i did from the start, thats off the top of my head with out looking at invoices, thats just on the ec300. the ec250 well dont get me started on that one! lol.

Pete · Devon's Best

This is the toll that comes with the role of Reconnaissance Officer which Ads performs for Cornwall TRF. They send him up a lane to see if it is safe for the rest of them.....

Ads · Clubman B

It's coming back down that gets costly! never the less i am not giving up my position just yet, will see what the new year brings, hopfuly a bit more luck.

jt · Powermonger!!

Pete wrote:
This is the toll that comes with the role of Reconnaissance Officer which Ads performs for Cornwall TRF. They send him up a lane to see if it is safe for the rest of them.....

Cracking biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin made I proper larf.....

northern john · Clubman B

Well folks I have ordered the brush set for the starter motor and praying for a good result. I'll give it a go this weekend and let you know. Thanks for all the advice people. John

Ads · Clubman B

If it's any concellation my love affair with Gas Gas will carry on, I started on the wrong foot by buying a worn out bike in the first place, but what i will say is Thor has provided me with a first class service and always had any part i needed on the shelf and a lot of the work was done whilst i waited, if not the bike was ready for the next weekend, I dont know many places that you can get that kind of service.