TOPIC:

Ever since I've owned my Nordwest I have had problems to start it. This has left it to sit in the corner of my garage for many years and I thought I would have a last ditch attempt to try and sort it. When I press the starter the engine cranks for a few seconds then there is a mechanical bang then it cranks again. The engine just doesn't turn fast enough to start. Despite being stood in a damp garage for at least 7 years the engine started straight up with a bit of carb cleaner squirted down the back of the carb.
I have had the starter clutch apart many times, it is fitted with the new KTM inner and I've cleaned both clutch faces up with emery paper in a lathe.
I've made a little video of the noise it makes when cranking here:
www.dropbox.com/s/ih4aveeheh4jpg5/Gilera%20starting.mp4?dl=0
Is this the starter clutch making the noise or is there another problem somewhere else?

did not sound to bad for me
If you are through with the K*M starter clutch.....

Maybe you have some faulty wire connection.
Contact resistance can eat a lot of volts.
Maybe your starter motor itself has a problem. You may open it an check all whats in there.
There should be some palnet gearing and amybe (depends on the year of build) a second slip clutch. And also check the carbon brushes (rigt word?). If there are some
Good luck.

ciao Joachim

Hi Joachim thank you for the reply.
I think maybe the sound on the video doesn't come across very well, It wont crank continuously only for a few seconds then there is a loud mechanical clank it stops cranking then starts again.

I have had the starter motor apart & even bought a new one from Bob but it didn't make any difference. On the video the bike is hooked up to a car battery by jump leads so it would probably crank a bit faster off a fully charged battery but the banging on cranking is a problem I've had since owning the bike from 1999 and has always given me starting problems.

Should the Nordwest crank continuously or is that a trait of the bike?

Thanks, Brett.

keep in your mind, it's a big single
The starter of your 4cylinder car engine will turn much smoother i think.

Have you ever checked the wiring?
There also is relays to switch the electrical power.
Maybe there is some fault.
But it looks like you are through with all the things i could think of

Good luck, Joachim

When was the last time you checked the timing and the vale clearances?

Could be something to do with that possibly combined with a poor battery. Nordwests need a powerful battery, a fat spark and ultra clean carbs to even consider firing up, but if it's not cranking over and over then it's not helpful.
Try taking the plug out and see if it cranks without any compression.

Oh, and welcome to the GeN,

P

Thanks P, The timing belt was newly fitted & didn't improve anything. I've never checked the clearances definitely should do that.
I'm convinced if it cranked at a good rate that it would be ok. My next step is to hook the starter motor direct to a car battery and see how it turns over then. That should eliminate any exiting wiring.