From: csl@swl.msd.ray.com (Scott Lilliott)
Subject: Re: Mechanic's challenge
Organization: Raytheon Company, Tewksbury, MA
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 13:38:52 GMT

loki@nazgul.physics.mcgill.ca (Loki Jorgenson) writes:


>	Care to try your hand at "guess what's wrong with this moto"?

>	My '84 FJ1100 (29K km) has just lately started doing something
>which I can't figure out for the life of me.  It has happened three
>times and it can't be reproduced on command.  I would appreciate any hints.

>	Here's what happens:  The bike is just starting to get warm
>(about 10 minutes on the road) on a pretty cold day (5 or 10 Celsius).
>I'm cruising along in second gear at about 5k rpm.  Everything sounds
>normal.  I back off on the gas to decelerate, the engine quiets as the
>revs decrease.  But.....

>	There is a high-pitched whine of something spinning at a constant
>rate.  It continues to spin and whine until I've dropped to about 2k rpm
>and then it "unsticks" (or whatever) and stops.  It's like something
>that is supposed to be spinning fast because the engine is spinning fast
>forgets to slow down when the engine does.  The last time I heard
>it, I pulled the clutch and dropped the rpms to idle so I could hear
>it better.  It lasted for several seconds.  It sounded like it was
>coming from somewhere under the tank (ie. the motor's cam).  But it
>was pretty hard to tell even though it was quite loud.

>	I'm sufficiently well-versed in bike mechanics to be thoroughly
>confused.  What could go on spinning at high speed when the bike is
>decelerating, the engine is at idle and the clutch dis-engaged?  Note
>that it didn't change pitch until it stopped which means it was not
>directly related to my speed.  Also, neither brake was being used
>at the time.

>	Inquiring minds want hints.

>---                            _    ___
>'gards,                        \\  / ___\
>                                \\(=/___   
>Loki Jorgenson                   \/ ___/         node:  loki@Physics.McGill.CA
>Keeper of the Reviews (KotR)     / /             ftp:	ftp.Physics.McGill.CA
>Physics, McGill University      / // \           fax:   (514) 398-6526
>Montreal Quebec CANADA         / / \  \          phone: (514) 398-7027
>                              / /   \  \
>			     (o/     \__)
>                    -*  Mechanically  misanthropic  *-

OK, I'll take a shot - STARTER MOTOR - from your description it *sounds*
like the starter switch is not shutting of the starter when you release the
button, or, is intermittently shorting out after the bike is running. This 
would cause the starter to turn over and the starter clutch to freewheel,
since the engine is spinning faster than the starter clutch.

Possible Solution(s):  Disassemble the righthand handlebar cluster and clean
the connections as visible and/or further disassemble the internals down to
the component level. Check for broken frayed wires. If all looks good, 
reassemble and check the starter solenoid, usually found at the other
end of the starter cable. Solenoids do go bad, and could be shorting out
as well. Use a multimeter to check continuity where and when there should 
and shouldn't be.

Keep us posted with the results! 
Good Luck!

S.
-- 
#   Scott Lilliott - csl@swl.msd.ray.com 
 #  AMA #600897                  "Countersteering is like benchracing.  
#   DoD #0227                     A bunch of posers standing around
 #  INOA #8563                    the parts counter lying about all the