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Breva 1100 starter pulling too much current

mcwilljg

Just got it firing!
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
17
I have a 2006 B1100 which I bought last year. About 6 months ago, it started blowing the 15 amp starter fuse. I thought it was the starter (Valeo) going bad, but the same starter did fine on the '03 Stone that I also own. Anyway, I found a company, D B Electrical, that sells a NEW Valeo replica for $95 that I ordered ($250 for a new Valeo). I replaced the Valeo with this $95 copy.

This starter has worked fine on the Breva for 5 months, but now it has started blowing fuses again. The starter works and seems to be in good shape. I haven't been able to find a place that can measure the amp draw, so I can't be sure that it's okay. At any rate, I replaced the $94 replica starter with the original Valeo starter and guess what? The Valeo starter doesn't blow fuses on the Breva any more!

What's going on here? Any suggestions?

Joe
 
Sounds like you have resistance that is causing extra load. When you changed starters, the problem went away because the connections got cleaned. Try cleaning all your connections again and applying some dielectric grease to protect them. My guess is you live in a very humid environment. Also if I were to purchase a starter, I'd get one of these http://www.motoelekt.com/guzzistarter.htm I've picked up a gently used one to have a a spare since it will fit three of our five bikes.
 
john zibell said:
Sounds like you have resistance that is causing extra load. When you changed starters, the problem went away because the connections got cleaned. Try cleaning all your connections again and applying some dielectric grease to protect them. My guess is you live in a very humid environment.

John,

Your guess is dead on - East Texas, one hour north of Houston, the "Bayou City." What you say makes sense and would certainly explain the behavior I've observed. The only thing that doesn't fit is that there isn't any visual evidence of corrosion. I will follow your advice and clean and coat all contacts. Sure do hope it's as simple as this.

Thanks for your input.

Cheers,
Joe
 
What is the 15 amp fuse supplying? Not the starter motor, the current this draws is many times the capacity of the fuse. The starter motor is connected directly to the battery and receives current when the solenoid is activated. Can't see why the starter motor is causing the fuse to blow.

I'd be looking for another reason, one that perhaps you disturbed when changing the starter motor. Just my $0.02c.
 
kiwi dave said:
What is the 15 amp fuse supplying? Not the starter motor, the current this draws is many times the capacity of the fuse. The starter motor is connected directly to the battery and receives current when the solenoid is activated. Can't see why the starter motor is causing the fuse to blow.

I'd be looking for another reason, one that perhaps you disturbed when changing the starter motor. Just my $0.02c.

Dave,

Absolutely correct. Probably increased resistance at the spade connection to the solenoid.
 
had a similar experience with my 06 B11. Bike would only start haphazard, after i routed the spade connector to the earth to an extension wire. Bike wouldn't start especially when hot. Cold no problem.

So added a grounding wire from -ve on battery, stater solenoid and chassis.

BIke's started without any problems since. Cold, or hot.

Might be worth a try.. mysterious grounding issues.

Oh, and I'm ona bosch starter motor, original solenoid.

deyna
 
^^ Can you give me a quick explanation of what you did...might help my staring issues,
 
john zibell said:
kiwi dave said:
What is the 15 amp fuse supplying? Not the starter motor, the current this draws is many times the capacity of the fuse. The starter motor is connected directly to the battery and receives current when the solenoid is activated. Can't see why the starter motor is causing the fuse to blow.

I'd be looking for another reason, one that perhaps you disturbed when changing the starter motor. Just my $0.02c.

Dave,

Absolutely correct. Probably increased resistance at the spade connection to the solenoid.

John, that's where I have the issue. Increased resistance always means less current, not more. I'd be looking for another explanation.
 
kiwi dave said:
john zibell said:
kiwi dave said:
What is the 15 amp fuse supplying? Not the starter motor, the current this draws is many times the capacity of the fuse. The starter motor is connected directly to the battery and receives current when the solenoid is activated. Can't see why the starter motor is causing the fuse to blow.

I'd be looking for another reason, one that perhaps you disturbed when changing the starter motor. Just my $0.02c.

Dave,

Absolutely correct. Probably increased resistance at the spade connection to the solenoid.

John, that's where I have the issue. Increased resistance always means less current, not more. I'd be looking for another explanation.

The solenoid will attempt to draw the needed amps to activate. Thus the increased load on the circuit. Same thing happens to old starter motors, when they get worn and have poor connections, they draw more amps.
 
john zibell said:
Dave,

Absolutely correct. Probably increased resistance at the spade connection to the solenoid.

The solenoid will attempt to draw the needed amps to activate. Thus the increased load on the circuit. Same thing happens to old starter motors, when they get worn and have poor connections, they draw more amps.

Poor connections as you say increases the resistance which reduces the current, simple Ohm's Law. So surely they must draw less amps (through the solenoid windings, the circuit that is protected by a fuse).

I accept that a starter motor not up to speed will draw more current than one spinning, but this circuit cannot affect the fuse as it is connected directly to the battery.
 
kiwi dave said:
[

Poor connections as you say increases the resistance which reduces the current, simple Ohm's Law. So surely they must draw less amps (through the solenoid windings, the circuit that is protected by a fuse).
.

So why when he R&R'd the starter, did it not blow fuses for awhile?

Let's see what he finds.
 
This 15 amp fuse blowing seems to be not uncommon. I have seen several reports on the various boards about this, on other late models too. As it supplies the current to the starter solenoid, it is probably barely big enough, as these solenoids do take quite a lot of current. Just maybe you only need a slight additional load to blow it. It also supplies the sidelights.
Also, fuses which are operating on the top end of their safe level will blow for no other reason than they are "tired".
Try fitting a 20A fuse.

I agree with Dave on the Ohms law part. If there is a resistance in series with the solenoid it will reduce the current flowing through the solenoid, ultimately preventing it from working properly.
On the other hand, if there is another path to earth in parallel with the solenoid, it will increase the current, and may cause the fuse to blow.
 
I recently had starter problems on my B11 so used the valeo from the 1000S, and this failed as well.
Guzzi now sell a Bosch starter for the Breva which is better than those crappy french valeos.
My new Bosch cost me £153 from Corsa italiana and was well worth the money! :)
 
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