Bad cold start (sound of $$$)

[vexlak]

Saturday I parked my baby on the streets of NYC without problem. Today I had to park it across the street. It is a bid cold in NYC, so I expected the mighty Odyssey battery to continue her life span and help with the hard work to start the boxer monster. Indeed the engine span for maybe 4 times, seemingly harder and slower then when in warm weather. Then all off the sudden a noise similar to back firing coming from the left side… OMG!!!
Nothing after that, only the whining sound of starter spinning free. The starter is relatively new 2 years.
I am dying to read your suggestions.
Thank you!

[Boxer]

Sounds like something broke!

[vexlak]

Sounds like something broke!

Boxer you are a genius!
Couldn’t have thought of that my self...

[boxermania]

It looks like there might have been an amp overdraw by the starter and the Bendix (the gear that travels on the starter shaft and engages the flywheel to turn the engine) might have broken or jammed.

Suggest you go back, try again and note exactly what is taking place.......good luck.

[vexlak]

Thank you for your suggestion. I tried today again and I get nothing but the sound of the spinning starter. I guess I have to take it the spinner out and see what really happen. My only hope that it’s only the starter and nothing more.

[NoRRmad]

The bang could have been your starter solenoid shorting out...or it could be that you've knocked a couple of teeth off the circumference of the flywheel. If you push the bike forward a bit in sixth gear, rotating the flywheel, perhaps that would show which it is.

[vexlak]

The bang could have been your starter solenoid shorting out...or it could be that you've knocked a couple of teeth off the circumference of the flywheel. If you push the bike forward a bit in sixth gear, rotating the flywheel, perhaps that would show which it is.

THANX
Tried to get sixth gear: no good. I am not sure if this is only mine or every r1150 but I cannot get beyond 2nd. First, neutral and second and that's it. Tried spinning the engine on 2nd with no luck. I guess I have no other choice but the take the starter out and take it apart.

[NoRRmad]

I think that if you take the starter out, you can see the pinion gears on the flywheel. if you watch them through a full crankshaft rotation, you can see if any are damaged.

[egates]

I've had the same problem a few times and its always when its cold but the bike would eventually start. The last time it happened, no such luck, just a spinning starter. I pulled the starter and found the starter pinion teeth were chewed up and the flywheel (clutch housing) was in really bad shape. Pictures are on this site, just search for some of my posts. I rebuilt the starter by installing a new pinion gear which was challenging (also posted here) but doable. I thought maybe I could clean up the teeth on the flywheel but no such luck - need a new one. So, after procrastinating for 10 months, I've finally pulled the drive and tran off the bike and am ordering the new clutch housing (flywheel). Local BMW shopped said it was 8 hour job minimum at $95 an hour plus parts and whatever else they find wrong. Could not afford that. Bought the Clymer manual and the BMW CD and while I use both for reference, the Clymer does a much better job of explaining the jobs - but use both to cross-reference.
Still not sure what I'm going to do about the special tool to lock the flywheel (actual name is clutch housing) while unbolting it - $50 from BMW so might just find something to jam in there.

[vexlak]

Here is what happened:
After some traveling, I was finally able to take a look at the starter... What a surprise !!!
Roughly2 years ago I personally changed starter. I recall following printed procedure listed somewhere on this board. I recall tightening the both screws as directed. Made few thousand miles and started the bike at least 14-20 per day. Never a problem until the day I described earlier.
To my great surprise, the front screw (bolt or lug) on the starter was missing. This caused the starter to shift and the aluminum housing that is housing the screw broke off. That misaligned the starter from the flywheel and caused the noise that I described initially. Since I had the old starter all I had to do is to change the housing to install it back. Works like a charm again. The puzzle is the missing screw. I am absolutely positive that it was I installed both of them pretty tight. I hate to say this but since I park in the city of New York streets, I have a suspicion that someone may have “borrowed” it. That would however mean that he/she (to politically correct) would have to take off the cover and take the screw and put everything back. If that is the case, than thank you a fellow rider not to take rest of the stuff. I did not have the bike in a shop nor left somewhere for long time. The alternative is that the screw unscrewed itself and went MIA. I have no idea how that could happen since I am sure that I had the washers and all. Go figure…

Saturday I parked my baby on the streets of NYC without problem. Today I had to park it across the street. It is a bid cold in NYC, so I expected the mighty Odyssey battery to continue her life span and help with the hard work to start the boxer monster. Indeed the engine span for maybe 4 times, seemingly harder and slower then when in warm weather. Then all off the sudden a noise similar to back firing coming from the left side… OMG!!!
Nothing after that, only the whining sound of starter spinning free. The starter is relatively new 2 years.
I am dying to read your suggestions.
Thank you!

[Dr. Strangelove]

wow. that is quite a story.

Having visited my starter's resting place a couple of times in the past couple of months, is there a torque setting for those two bolts and is blue locktite on them a good idea?

I had a brake caliper bolt--about the same size as the starter bolt, go mia once, but not since.

[Boxer]

Sounds like something broke!

Wow! I can't believe I was right after all.

[vexlak]

Wow! I can't believe I was right after all.

Yep, absolutely! Who would think about a missing bolt...