E-start bendix not bendixing :)

[rgranger]

Any special oil or lube to put on this thing, it just spins, spins fast, but no engaging the fly-wheel?
Thanks
Rob

[Neil E.]

Did you replace the battery? Mine would spin up without engaging. Worked right only 50%. A Lithium Ion battery will "throw" the bendix out much faster so it engages right away. I put some synthetic engine oil on the bendix and light wipe of grease on the ring gear. I even did some gear tooth profiling on the bendix gear, but it didn't help. The Yuasa battery is weak.

Perhaps some of the return springs are too strong. Was there any change in the part numbers for these units?

Jump your bike battery from a car or truck. If the bendix engages every time, you know it's a battery issue.

[rgranger]

No, i thought that may be the issue, but my smart charger says that the battery is good, maybe that is good for nothing

do you remember which Li ion you went with? does it recharge normally, I think that some of them now do not need a special charger.

I guess I will wait to see if I have a job this afternoon after my boss just blew up before ordering one.

[Neil E.]

The Yuasa would charge fine and showed OK voltage, but it just wouldn't drive the bendix out fast enough. There was sufficient power to crank the engine IF it engaged.

The LI battery info on the internet warned against charging at over 14.4V, so I did not rush to try one. The voltage on my bike measured as high as 15.6V which is way over that, but the description on the box indicated that up to 15.0V was OK. My regulator output bounced all over the place with the Yuasa battery (12.8 to 15.2 depending on what loads I had on).

I even isolated the stator ground and installed a TrailTech voltage regulator. That experiment did not work out to my expectations, so I put the stock regulator back on. I suspect the Yuasa battery was at fault, but have not done enough testing to verify this. I should post some detail about the stator modifications as it may be interesting to someone.

Shorai LFX14L2-BS12 is what you want.

[rgranger]

I don't think that this is specific to this issue as mine isn't even engaging but when the bike was new I had some meshing issues and a bigger gasket helped. it looks like I stumbled onto what they are suggesting but with specifics and not trial and error.

Well, my PDF is too big. Glenn can you PM me with an email so I can send you a copy?
Rob

[Robby45]

There is at least one previuos thread on this issue here. As you mention, the solution for some was adding a gasket.

For me, my starter won't engage cold, but does fine when the bike has warmed up. I don't mind kicking my bike in the parking lot, as long as I don't have to do it while sliding backwards downhill or while stuck in a creek.

[rgranger]

I can tell right now, that the problem was the Bendix just from spinning it in my hands. The bindex extends and locks solid, the other would do neither. Now I am just waiting on my forks to come back from Les.

[Neil E.]

Did you try the bike with the new bendix installed?

[rgranger]

Oh yeah, had to use 3 gaskets but it worked like a charm, then i appear to have fractured my wrist with the setup on the forks but the bike starts right up!!! the new bendix turns and locked into postion, the old one just spun and never fully extended or locked. so something in the little clutch system went south. I think that it may have been that the bindex didn't disengage soon enough and must have burnt things up. $230 for the new part.

[andykr87]

Im having the same problem w my bendix. On the table w a car battery it wont fully engage or lock. On top on my kickstarter being bent im not real happy right now. I guess ill buy a bendix and see if that helps.