Starter spins but will not turn motor - 2005 Yamaha YZF-R1

Is the security light flashing on the dash?

Is the battery flat, any noises, clicks? Headlights work and bright?

Has anyone checked for Diagnostic Trouble codes?

i cant dope out that symptoms.

does it crank or not. be clear there.

no car starts (but my 6sp) if it dont crank.

on A/T cars cranking is a first thing. so does it.?

Solenoids do not spin, the stroke only , it a linear motion.

the Sol. moves the pinion and the main contactor switch only.



my guess is the Starter spins and the crank don\'t spin,

you hear the starter motor spin up, it sings. like bird.

that means the starter /solenoid are bad. (crude)

if the battery is good and or jumper starting off a running car.



It can just be a dirty starter pinion, clean it , repeat.

fixed many for this. i have.



battery cable lugs clean, and good. no green rust.

bad cable usually just make a loud THUNK sound. no spin.

You say your starter is kicking in..is it spinning and not turning the engine over? If so you have a problem with the flywheel teeth or starter gears not engaging..if no spin just a click..your battery is to weak to turn engine or you starter selonoid or starter needs replaced...good luck..

3 posibilies:

1. Plain old bad starter
2. Low battery (not enough power to fully engage starter)
3. Frozen (iced) starter (ATV's are often wet after all)

Usually if the starter spins but does not engage the flywheel, the problem is the flywheel or the bendix drive in the starter. The starter gear is supposed to extend to meet the flywheel when the starter spins.

Your starter bendix possibly needs cleaning. Unfortunately these are sealed units and can only be dismantled and re-assembled with specialized equipment. They can be purchased loose.

Have a look here: Starting

This is the part you are looking for:

Starter motor spins, but does not engage

1. Check the starter motor for a seized or binding pinion gear.
2. Remove the flywheel inspection plate and check for a damaged ring gear.

Starter motor spins, but does not engage

1. Check the starter motor for a seized or binding pinion gear.
2. Remove the flywheel inspection plate and check for a damaged ring gear.

Either the timing belt/chain/gears has failed, which can really change the sound of cranking, but the engine visibly goes around.

If the engine does not turn (as it sounds is the case with your car), but the starter spins fast enough to be described as sounding like a hairdryer, then the starter drive is bad and the starter will need to be replaced or rebuilt.

The starter drive is turned by the starter motor, and the drive in turn turns the gear that engages the flywheel of the engine. The part that turns that gear will not let the starter motor be pushed by the engine — it has a one-way, overrunning clutch in it. If the engine got a chance to spin the starter, the starer would simply explode. It is maybe 10 or 15 to one between the engine. One good start using the gas pedal would spin the starter like 15 to 25 thousand RPM...

If that overrunning clutch fails the starter motor cannot spin the gear that turns the engine.

well considering you said it spins, i'm assuming you mean that you hear the starter spinning and it's not turning the motor. That means the starter gear is probably worn out and you'll need a new starter, as for the solenoid, if the solenoid was bad you would not hear the starter doing anything. So its a safe bet that your starter is not working properly.

If it is turning the motor, then you have an ignition or fuel issue.