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Predator 50 ELECTRIC Starting problems
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Posted by: Dirtmerchant

I have a problem with my sons Predator 50 electric starter. I think the bike is an 06 but not sure, it is the last year of the 2 Stroke.

The bike is about 3 years old and has always been VERY hard to start cold, chock, no chock, throttle, little throttle, well, you get the idea.

About a month ago the electric starter quit working, the battery is original but is holding a charge at about 12.4 volts I took the battery to a local motorcycle shop and they used a full sized auto draw down tester and said it was bad but I don't think that is appropriate to use on such a small capacity battery although it did hold green for a second or two...

When pushing the starter button all you get is a starter click as it engages but will not turn the motor just dims the tail light but not totally dark.

I decided to pull the starter off, it would spin fine off the bike. I pulled the starter apart thinking the brushes may be worn since it is such a bear to start and requires a lot of spinning to fire. To make a long story longer, while the brushes looked a bit worn they weren't bad but I managed to damage them putting the starter back together again. I am going to pic the starter up from the shop in a day or two but I have a feeling that I'm going to be starting back at square one. I had thought about pulling the side cover off the drive to see if anything looks hung up in there but really just grasping at straws.

Anyone have any ideas as to where my problems is with the starter?

Secondly, are these bikes all such a bear to get started cold? I picked up a new spark plug but I think is likely more due to fuel delivery.

Posted by: Dirtmerchant

Bike is back together and running better then new.

As it turns out, it was the needle bearings on the Starter Drive were jammed up with crud. I cleaned the bearing up, used sandpaper on the metal parts, put a light film of grease on everything and put it back together.

Also, put a fresh NGK plug in and pulled the carb apart and cleaned everything up with good spray carb cleaner. I adjusted the air mixture setting and it will now fire off on the first kick.