How To Test Motorcycle, ATV, & UTV Starters

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If it doesn’t start, it doesn’t run. And if it doesn’t run, what’s the fun? Starter Motors play a crucial part in starting your machine, but when do you know if your starter is bad or not? In this video we demonstrate how to test to see if your OEM starter needs replaced or if it's just time for a new battery. Starters give you the reliability and hard-cranking performance you need to get you to where you are riding from and back. When looking for a new starter motor Rocky Mountain ATV/MC has got you covered.

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[brucelee]

My motorcycle stopped turning over one day. I tested the starter solenoid and the pulse generator coil. They were okay, so I took out the starter and tested it exactly as shown in this video. It sparked a ton and there was no movement. I'll be replacing (rebuilding if possible) the starter & my bike should be back on the road.
Thank you for the helpful video!

[brianspencer]

Just because a starter turns does NOT mean it is still good. The real question is how much torque will it produce and to test that you need a dial type torque wrench a vice and most difficult to obtain, the max torque spec for your starter. Then connect the shaft to the torque wrench and clamp the starter in the vice and bump the starter with a 12 volt car battery and see what the reading is. They may spin but still won't turn the engine over for several reasons.

[kidambikrishnan]

Thank you I felt by connecting to the body it may earth and there will be problem I will try this

[Herco]

Work flow should be negative to starter body then negative to battery. Positive to battery then positive to starter motor. Otherwise you might the sparks before you have time to put on the safety glasses 😁. Thank for the vid. You guys make great and very helpful content.
👍🇿🇦👍

[tuansuthrorassdeen]

Thanx, I got the info I was looking for.

[dineshkumarnkdinesh]

Sir i have same starter you used and i connect terminals you have connected like that but it create sparks at battery and also motor

[markcregger]

Can you do that with it connected or do you have to removeit from machine ?

[benhonda]

as we all know, safety glasses always protect you from sparks...lol

[billbrown]

Hahaha, , , I know you are being serious here, but I find this funny.
touch the post with hot,
if it starter good
if it don't spin, starter bad

Makes for a good video, but not always the case.
You can have a different results, for example
if starter is under a load or
starter hot vs cold
I have seen cases in the above where a starter appears to be good, but was actually bad.

Don't get me wrong here, , , I love you guys, keep it up.

[xzouix]

This is supercool and very helpful!! Thank you for putting out these short video tutorials.

[nzbarbers]

I love the way you explained it, which is fast and easy. Thanks alot.

[prmhighflr]

The most sensible and most easiest way to check your starter thank you for the video

[akbarhussain]

Hi Rocky Mountain, thank you for your fine tips for testing Starter Motor's, thank you ..

[ronenronen]

Hello . I connected the starter relay to the battery and it starts and stops
It means not good.
But when it is connected to the motorcycle and tries to start it spins. Thanks for the help

[dyt]

cleaned my starter and resembled it, now it turns in wrong direction, how do i revert the polarity to run correct rotation?

[victorreyes]

Need to know the starter for a Raptor 1700 is located on the scooter?

[Smalltechguy]

Nice explanation and simple. I have done a few of these but though maybe on these Kawasaki 300 that the connection might be backwards. But even just trying to turn the gear by hand, it still won't budge. It's brand

[samsonkeishing]

hi brother thanks you showing to how does starters work so I will understand explain

[cameronlambert]

I go to test my new starter that I just bought to see if it will turn over and After I ground the cable to the starter and I apply the positive cable to it I just see sparks fly and it doesn’t turn over why is this ?

[squiretaylor]

When the spark plugs out it turns over great but in it gets a half a turn?