E start issues
 

Folks,

I've got a 2014 ec250 that has had the 2015 e start kit retrofitted to it.

The E-start has never worked properly, it just makes an awful squealing noise but fails to turn over the engine. It appears the bendix is ok and is engaging with the crownwheel

I stripped the bendix down last week and cleaned and oiled it, all teeth are present and are if good condition.


Any ideas?

It may be something as simple as a flat battery or misalignment.

As long as it makes a awful noise, I guess the battery is OK. Did you try another battery?

What about the sprag clutch on the crank? Did you check that it engages correctly?

No I haven't checked that.

What is the spray clutch and what is it's function?

Thanks

A sprag clutch is a one-way rotating mechanism that free-wheels in one direction and locks up in the other. Used to ensure that the starter doesn't keep on rotating after the engine starts. But Wait a bit. Perhaps there is no sprag in the GG start mechanism?

I just checked the parts list. There is no such thing in the GG. Sorry for the confusion I made.

I have no direct knowledge on the 2015 parts, however a sprag clutch is a normal requirement of an electric start assembly. It is inside the bendix unit. The individiual sprag elements are lightly tensioned by a "gathering spring". They are hidden behind a sheetmetal cover that must be moved to make the internal parts visible.

Some folks have improved the estart action by lightly stretching the gathering spring. The best solution is to replace the bendix with one from a scooter. The part number is in other threads about estart problems. My take on things is that the the main bendix return spring is too strong in the stock GG assembly. It is not a drop in replacement and requires pressing the drive gear etc.

The 2015 bendix is different to the Honda scooter one.

I suggest you clean the outside of the bendix, cam it to full extension and wrap some tape around it to hold it open. Install it without the starter motor and see if you can verify the gear tooth engagement. Loose is better than tight.

Usually the bendix does not work well because the strong return spring slows it down. Alternately, if the gathering spring is tight, the cam weights don't let the assembly fling out for quick gear engagement. The bendix won't work at all if the gathering spring is stretched too far. I found that grease was also able to slow down the bendix. A light oil was better.

These thoughts are based on the older units and may not apply to your year. The bendix relies on a quick burst of rotation and requires a good battery to work reliably.

I got there in the end.

The bendix turned out to be Ok, it was actually the motor. When I'm the bench, I noticed that half of the time the motor was spinning CW and the other half the time spinning CCW.

I cleaned the motor and commutator and reassembled and it is now working fine.