Wierd problem with 5th gen VFR

The service manual makes it look so easy to take it (starter motor) out...I can't find it at all.
 
Do I need to take off that piece of plastic behind the front wheel to see it? I can see the oil filter but could not see the starter motor.
 
silverbullet132 said:
Do I need to take off that piece of plastic behind the front wheel to see it? I can see the oil filter but could not see the starter motor.
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Our bikes are different. But I can see the Oil filter and the starter motor if I remove the side fairings and lower fairings. If I were to remove the starter I'd remove that front lower too.
 
slowbird said:
Our bikes are different. But I can see the Oil filter and the starter motor if I remove the side fairings and lower fairings. If I were to remove the starter I'd remove that front lower too.
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Thanks, after removing the front lower that was behind the wheel I could see it. Got it out after a fine struggle, now what? Do I need to somehow cover that hole where it went into my engine?
 
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silverbullet132 said:
Thanks, after removing the front lower that was behind the wheel I could see it. Got it out after a fine struggle, now what? Do I need to somehow cover that hole where it went into my engine?
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Do you have a new one coming in? On order?

That hole leads into the Clutch side of the engine. It'd be good to leave the older starter in until the new one arrives.
 
Ah crap LOL :p Will go put it back in now then. Was going to head to some salvage places tomorrow and see if anyone has anything. Otherwise I found a couple on ebay for $70 shipped give or take a few dollars. Will any starter motor from a 98-09 work or just 98-01?
 
silverbullet132 said:
Alright no problem, thanks. Hopefully someone local has a starter motor :(
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...and hopefully it fixes the problem.

If you can't find one maybe you can rebuild it? If you live in the area I'd say take it to ready Honda (the starter) and see if they can order a Rebuild kit for it.
 
slowbird said:
...and hopefully it fixes the problem.

If you can't find one maybe you can rebuild it? If you live in the area I'd say take it to ready Honda (the starter) and see if they can order a Rebuild kit for it.
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Good idea, thanks :)

Should I try inspecting the kill switch/starter switch? Anything to watch out for while I do that? (ie: flying springs)
 
silverbullet132 said:
Good idea, thanks :)

Should I try inspecting the kill switch/starter switch? Anything to watch out for while I do that? (ie: flying springs)
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I never popped one open before. Don't know if it would cause your issue.
 
Opened up the starter motor, cleaned it out with a can of connection cleaner, it was soooo dirty.

Now the motor starts and runs fine, but I think I fouled the spark plugs or something. When I give it gas it runs like crap and has an occasional backfire. :(
 
If you're gonna pull the plugs to clean them, you might as well go ahead and replace them.

(that's if it's the actual problem) You're still getting good voltage? Them FI bikes like to have proper voltage to run right.
 
Maybe that is the problem, my battery was reading 12.5v. A post on VFRD says 13.5 while testing, on to the charger it goes!

Forgot to mention, now it cranks over etc fine but refuses to start.
 
A good way to check if it's a voltage issue:

While your battery is still in the bike....hook up your car/truck/van to the Bike battery. (both veh's off)

DON'T START THE CAR/TRUCK/VAN. Leave it off.

Make sure connections are correct and try starting the bike. If it starts fine and runs fine you know it's a voltage issue.
When I bought my old 2nd gen it had a bad battery and that's how the owner started the bike. As soon as you disconnect it from the car battery it would sputter and die.
 
Do not have a bigger battery to hook up. Did charge up a known good battery from my v45 sabre to 13.2v, put it in, same problem.

Going to take it back to Rosey Toes, as this is what the bike was doing before I bought it and they were supposed to fix. (their fix did work, for about 8kms)
 
Took it to the mechanic, it is fouling plugs and running rich + backfiring. Had to leave it there for the night :(

Edit: He took it out for a ride today, said it worked perfect for about 30 mins then started to bog out and die. Fuel pump?
 
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Got it back today, now I am 90% sure the battery is the root of my problems. It starts fine and holds 13.5v-ish at idle and 14.2v-ish at 5000rpm. Sometimes while running the multimeter would read 0v off the battery then it would go back up to 14.2v. Hopefully a Canadian Tire has the battery in stock, so I can swap it.
 
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