Direct Bikes DB50QT - starter sounds like battery going flat - but battery is ok - help pls...

Hi Guys,

I have a 2012 Direct Bikes DB50QT which I have owned for 8 months and has been used Mon-Fri for commuting twice a day without issue.

A couple of days ago when trying to start it it started sounding like the battery was going flat - the electric starter would start as expected then just go quiet, turn slowly, then stop - exactly like when your battery is out of juice.

With the kick starter 4-5 kicks and engine would start and run ok.

Yesterday I removed the battery - tester showed 12.50v.

I connected it to the charger and the meter started on 1amp current draw but went down to just above 0 in 30 seconds - after 5 minutes you could hear the battery bubbling - so battery suggests it is charged.


Can anyone help me and give me pointers to what may be wrong?

Thx.

 

Starter motor brushes sticking?

 

How long is '2 long'?

I decided to have a look, took the starter motor out and as soon as I took the armature out the bushes sprung out. They look ok and seem to move freely;


Armature looks ok;

 

Looks ok in there. Mine was full of crud from a previous belt snapping and making a mess.

 

Your starter bendix might be knackered. That gets driven by the starter motor and it can get clogged with dirt and drive belt dust. That can cause it to move slowly or not move at all and that will overload the starter motor.