'83 Yamaha 225 DXK Weak Starter.

[balls_mahony]

I am new here. Before I start I used the search function but came up short. I have charged a new battery and have it installed, however the starter sounds weak. It only turns a few times real slow. It may start a warm engine at best. Would my next step be to clean the one wire coming out of the bottom of the starter and check grounds? is there a way to see if the starter is getting weak? When its at idle the headlight is quite dim, reved up it's bright as hell. Any and all information is appreciated!

I have never owned an atv before I bought this one for $50 it didnt run but I got it runnig after about 1/2 hr of work. I have been riding it for the last two years and I love it! I just found out that my girlfriends parents have a trike in there backyard its looks big from the street. I hope I can snath that one up too lol!

Thanks again,
Andrew

[booblinker]

Make sure ground and power wire connections are clean, and remember just because there isn't corrosion on the end of the cable doesn't mean the inside of the cable isn't junk. Do a voltage drop test and If I remember correctly you shouldn'd lose for than .2 volts between the battery an starter connection.

[booblinker]

Also if you want to have the starter tested, take it off, and take it to a local decent auto parts store, and have them test it and see how many amps it is pulling. I don't know what a trike one should pull, I know a car one shouldn't pull over 100 amps continuous, I'm guessing something this small shouldn't pull over like 50 continuous.

[balls_mahony]

boob you said to test the voltage drop. Do you mean on the new battery with no load vs. when it cranks? or do you mean test voltage at the starer when it cranks to see how much juice comes through the line? I think there is only one wire going to the starter, I assume that it is the + and its grounded through the block.

[booblinker]

I mean voltage drop on the power cable with no load, I believe(its been 5 years since that class) . You test voltage of the battery, then put the red terminal of tester on positive batter cable, then put negative terminal of tester on positive cable at the starter. See what the difference is, this will tell whether or not its the cable. I could be totally wring, its been years since ive had to do it

[balls_mahony]

Well I cleaned all the ground and the starter connections, and now all I hear it the little square relay (i think it is called) click when I push start. I have to pull off the tank to replace fuel lines etc so I will trace the wires looking for cracks. If that does not fix it then the hell with the elec start! lol

[leevarnado]

you have a bad starter.mine did the samething until i replace it with a good working starter.you can buy a rebuild kit for around $30 or a new knock off starter for around $50 on ebay.

[balls_mahony]

This rebuild is easy to do? or is it worth the $50. does it just pull out. I removed the bracket off and I got it to wiggle but it looks like it just pulls out.

[muthey]

it does just pull out have you checked your starter solenoid? that might be your culprit

[smvorndran]

Yamaha YTMs were plagued with weak starters. The 3 I had all did the chug, chug, chug.

[balls_mahony]

muthey how can I check that?
I am actually not exactly sure what component is the selenoid I will have to find a pic.

[MonroeMike]

Wiring diagram - page 277.
http://72.52.143.80/~trikes/ytm200&225-fm200_clymer_manual.pdf

[muthey]

it is a little round connection under the back plastics, should have a positive battery wire going to it

[balls_mahony]

Well I found it (man they tuck that thing way in there) all the connections look spotless. I will try to open that link at work my internet is real slow. Will that tell me how to test it?

[leevarnado]

one way to test your solenoid is to jump it with a flat head screw driver

[MonroeMike]

Well I found it (man they tuck that thing way in there) all the connections look spotless. I will try to open that link at work my internet is real slow. Will that tell me how to test it?

Right click, save it to your computer and then open it.

The service data is here.
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php?125954-YTM200-YTM200e-YTM225-Service-Data

[balls_mahony]

I will try that. I have to put on a new front tire tonight then I will try that test. Thanks all for the information so far!

[balls_mahony]

I can feel the selinoid click when the starter button is pressed. I think its the starter. I do believe the power connector bolt is not connected on the inside of the starter anymore. I found this rebuild kit http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STARTER-REBUILD-REPAIR-KIT-YAMAHA-YTM225DX-225-TRI-MOTO-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem53e5ca58a9QQitemZ36033 7529001..........................is this worth a try to fix it or could there be something wrong with it that this kit wont fix? Would it replace that power wire screw? I only paid $50 for this trike and don't want to spend the money on a new starter. Thanks again for the help!
-Andrew

[leevarnado]

or you can just buy a new starter.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-Starter-Yamaha-TRI-MOTO-YTM225-YTM225DX-1983-1986-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem53e6771b2eQQitemZ36034 8850990QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[balls_mahony]

Yeah I saw that but might be getting my hands on a free Honda trike so I don't want to put to much into this one yet. It still starts and runs great pull start. We'll see I guess how much I want to invest at this point (poor student)