Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
- davebonline
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:21 pm
Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
I took the rubber boot off my starter motor wire terminal the other day to find a nicely corroded stud and nut combination. After a bit of wire brushing it all came up OK but it's clear that the nut on the end needs replacing at some point as it looks to be correded away some what.
I've had no issues staring the bike, the starter motor appears to be pretty healthy and power seems to be going to it no problem (it's a 98 bike but only has 13k miles).
I tried to undo the nut so I could replace it with a new stainless one but I found the whole stud would turn. I can see that there's another 10mm nut below the wire terminal but I couln't find a spanner slim enough to get to this as the motor body and terminal wouldn't allow clearance.
What I wanted to ask was firstly, would you even bother trying to sort this when everything is currently working fine and secondly, is there a way of getting to the lock nut in order to allow removal of the outer nut - is this a starter motor off job?
Thanks
I've had no issues staring the bike, the starter motor appears to be pretty healthy and power seems to be going to it no problem (it's a 98 bike but only has 13k miles).
I tried to undo the nut so I could replace it with a new stainless one but I found the whole stud would turn. I can see that there's another 10mm nut below the wire terminal but I couln't find a spanner slim enough to get to this as the motor body and terminal wouldn't allow clearance.
What I wanted to ask was firstly, would you even bother trying to sort this when everything is currently working fine and secondly, is there a way of getting to the lock nut in order to allow removal of the outer nut - is this a starter motor off job?
Thanks
Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
if it was mine id slip the motor out, its a two min job and be carfull cause if the bolt starts to spin in the starter it will wreck the insides. it will pick the very worst time to let you down so whip it out and change the nuts and clean the stud up.
the older i get,the faster i was 

- davebonline
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:21 pm
Re: RE: Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
Thanks - so how do you get a spanner on the lock nut, access is very limited, it looks like you need a very slim spanner (say 3-4mm wide at most), none of my 10mm spanners will fit this gap?fabiostar wrote:if it was mine id slip the motor out, its a two min job and be carfull cause if the bolt starts to spin in the starter it will wreck the insides. it will pick the very worst time to let you down so whip it out and change the nuts and clean the stud up.
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- KermitLeFrog
- Posts: 1662
- Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 6:44 pm
- Location: Hexham
Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
Grind a spanner down or, do what I did. Hacksaw down the centre of the stud, through the top nut. Which then falls away. Clean everything up and put new nuts on. The stud having a slot in it won't make any difference. Replace the rubber boot with plenty of grease underneath it.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered" (George Best, RIP)
- davebonline
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:21 pm
Re: RE: Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
Once the top nut is off will the lower one undo easily, I'm worried that the stud will turn if I try and undo the lower one as well?KermitLeFrog wrote:Grind a spanner down or, do what I did. Hacksaw down the centre of the stud, through the top nut. Which then falls away. Clean everything up and put new nuts on. The stud having a slot in it won't make any difference. Replace the rubber boot with plenty of grease underneath it.
Also, what size/pitch is the stud, I'm guessing it's 6mm?
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Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
Just buy of ebay a common as muck Honda Hornet starter for about £20-£25. It's in a more protected position than the storm's and just remember to dab some vasaline under the rubber hood every-now-and-then to keep the salty winter crap out
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CB900-H ... Swo4pYT~Qc
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CB900-H ... Swo4pYT~Qc
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- Stevo Kifaru
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:13 am
- Location: Inbetween Coventry & Rugby
Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
If you want to go down the swapping for a used starter motor, this might help, not sure if this is a complete list though, I'm pretty sure a CB500 uses the same starter motor:
MITSUBA SM-13
HONDA 31200-MAT-003, 31200-MBB-000
Honda 2011 XL1000V
Honda 2011 XL1000VA
Honda 2010 XL1000V
Honda 2010 XL1000VA
Honda 2009 XL1000V
Honda 2009 XL1000VA
Honda 2008 CBR1100XX
Honda 2008 XL1000V
Honda 2008 XL1000VA
Honda 2007 CBR1100XX
Honda 2007 XL1000V
Honda 2007 XL1000VA
Honda 2006 CBR1100XX
Honda 2006 XL1000V
Honda 2006 XL1000VA
Honda 2005 CBR1100XX
Honda 2005 XL1000V
Honda 2005 XL1000VA
Honda 2004 CBR1100XX
Honda 2004 XL1000V
Honda 2004 XL1000VA
Honda 2003 XL1000V
Honda 2003 CBR1100XX
Honda 2002 CBR1100XX
Honda 2002 VTR1000F
Honda 2002 XL1000V
Honda 2001 CB1100SF
Honda 2001 CBR1100XX
Honda 2001 VTR1000F
Honda 2001 XL1000V
Honda 2000 XL1000V
Honda 2000 CB1100SF
Honda 2000 CBR1100XX
Honda 2000 VTR1000F
Honda 1999 CBR1100XX
Honda 1999 VTR1000F
Honda 1999 XL1000V
Honda 1998 CBR1100XX
Honda 1998 VTR1000F
Honda 1997 CBR1100XX
Honda 1997 VTR1000F
31200-MV9-671
Honda 2002 CB600F2
Honda 2002 CB600F
Honda 2002 CB900F
Honda 2001 CB600F2
Honda 2001 CB600F
Honda 2001 CBR900RR
Honda 2000 CB600F2
Honda 2000 CB600F
Honda 2000 CBR900RR
Honda 1999 CB600F
Honda 1999 CBR900RR
Honda 1998 CBR900RR
Honda 1998 CB600F
Honda 1997 CBR900RR
Honda 1996 CBR600F
Honda 1996 CBR900RR
Honda 1995 CBR600F
Honda 1995 CBR900RR
Honda 1994 CBR900RR
Honda 1994 CBR600F
Honda 1993 CBR900RR
Honda 1993 CBR600F
Honda 1992 CBR900RR
Honda 1992 CBR600F
Honda 1991 CBR600F
I used a combination of these souces:
http://www.psep.biz/store/honda_motorcy ... #AHSMU0095
https://www.motorcyclespareparts.eu/hon ... 36545.aspx
http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_mo ... ue_M01.php
MITSUBA SM-13
HONDA 31200-MAT-003, 31200-MBB-000
Honda 2011 XL1000V
Honda 2011 XL1000VA
Honda 2010 XL1000V
Honda 2010 XL1000VA
Honda 2009 XL1000V
Honda 2009 XL1000VA
Honda 2008 CBR1100XX
Honda 2008 XL1000V
Honda 2008 XL1000VA
Honda 2007 CBR1100XX
Honda 2007 XL1000V
Honda 2007 XL1000VA
Honda 2006 CBR1100XX
Honda 2006 XL1000V
Honda 2006 XL1000VA
Honda 2005 CBR1100XX
Honda 2005 XL1000V
Honda 2005 XL1000VA
Honda 2004 CBR1100XX
Honda 2004 XL1000V
Honda 2004 XL1000VA
Honda 2003 XL1000V
Honda 2003 CBR1100XX
Honda 2002 CBR1100XX
Honda 2002 VTR1000F
Honda 2002 XL1000V
Honda 2001 CB1100SF
Honda 2001 CBR1100XX
Honda 2001 VTR1000F
Honda 2001 XL1000V
Honda 2000 XL1000V
Honda 2000 CB1100SF
Honda 2000 CBR1100XX
Honda 2000 VTR1000F
Honda 1999 CBR1100XX
Honda 1999 VTR1000F
Honda 1999 XL1000V
Honda 1998 CBR1100XX
Honda 1998 VTR1000F
Honda 1997 CBR1100XX
Honda 1997 VTR1000F
31200-MV9-671
Honda 2002 CB600F2
Honda 2002 CB600F
Honda 2002 CB900F
Honda 2001 CB600F2
Honda 2001 CB600F
Honda 2001 CBR900RR
Honda 2000 CB600F2
Honda 2000 CB600F
Honda 2000 CBR900RR
Honda 1999 CB600F
Honda 1999 CBR900RR
Honda 1998 CBR900RR
Honda 1998 CB600F
Honda 1997 CBR900RR
Honda 1996 CBR600F
Honda 1996 CBR900RR
Honda 1995 CBR600F
Honda 1995 CBR900RR
Honda 1994 CBR900RR
Honda 1994 CBR600F
Honda 1993 CBR900RR
Honda 1993 CBR600F
Honda 1992 CBR900RR
Honda 1992 CBR600F
Honda 1991 CBR600F
I used a combination of these souces:
http://www.psep.biz/store/honda_motorcy ... #AHSMU0095
https://www.motorcyclespareparts.eu/hon ... 36545.aspx
http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_mo ... ue_M01.php
- KermitLeFrog
- Posts: 1662
- Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 6:44 pm
- Location: Hexham
Re: RE: Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
From memory I left the bottom nut alone. Just cleaned up the mating surface.davebonline wrote:Once the top nut is off will the lower one undo easily, I'm worried that the stud will turn if I try and undo the lower one as well?KermitLeFrog wrote:Grind a spanner down or, do what I did. Hacksaw down the centre of the stud, through the top nut. Which then falls away. Clean everything up and put new nuts on. The stud having a slot in it won't make any difference. Replace the rubber boot with plenty of grease underneath it.
Also, what size/pitch is the stud, I'm guessing it's 6mm?
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Not my idea to saw down through the stud, t'was Alison's. And a top tip too. No more problems.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered" (George Best, RIP)
Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
Making up since 2007, sometimes it's true...Honest...
- agentpineapple
- Posts: 15124
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:16 pm
Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
I ground down a 10mm spanner to use on the lower nut. as for the stud/bolt, you can't buy them anywhere. but you can buy a similar sized button head bolt and grind the head down to fit the recess.
oh and if you don't secure the lower nut, the rectangular end of the stud/bolt that sits inside of the motor, will spin around and destroy the plastic components, wrecking the motor. although you can buy those replacement parts.
as wicky said, another option is to buy a cheap used motor via ebay. i'd also be wary of this, as I've found that lots of 2nd hand motors have broken plastic internals. I assume because of the po not having a slim enough spanner to hold the lower nut in place.
oh and if you don't secure the lower nut, the rectangular end of the stud/bolt that sits inside of the motor, will spin around and destroy the plastic components, wrecking the motor. although you can buy those replacement parts.
as wicky said, another option is to buy a cheap used motor via ebay. i'd also be wary of this, as I've found that lots of 2nd hand motors have broken plastic internals. I assume because of the po not having a slim enough spanner to hold the lower nut in place.
HEY YOU GUYS!!!!!!
Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
I had the same problem only the other week, if the stud is turning, the chances are the plastic insulation is damaged, as mentioned above, it will let you down one day.
What I did was file one side of the corroded nut away so I could brake it off, took the starter motor off, easy enough to do, just 2 bolts and a bit of a pull and wiggle.
As yours, every thing else was good with mine, so I bought a second hand one for £20 just for the T bolt and the plastic inner front parts, took mine apart and then swapped the parts needed from the second hand one over to mine.
Yes you can be unlucky and the one you buy could have damaged plastic insulated parts, but you will have the T bolt.
If it comes to it you can buy a service kit from ebay or wemoto for about £25, for that you get the brushes, plastic insulator, seals and washers, but you don't get the T bolt though, but like Tonymon advised me, you can make one from a roofing bolt.
Regards the locking nut, grind a spanner down or just make one out of a piece of 3mm flat bar, or borrow one of the kids cycle spanner, ya know, the one with loads of cut out nut sizes on it.
What I did was file one side of the corroded nut away so I could brake it off, took the starter motor off, easy enough to do, just 2 bolts and a bit of a pull and wiggle.
As yours, every thing else was good with mine, so I bought a second hand one for £20 just for the T bolt and the plastic inner front parts, took mine apart and then swapped the parts needed from the second hand one over to mine.
Yes you can be unlucky and the one you buy could have damaged plastic insulated parts, but you will have the T bolt.
If it comes to it you can buy a service kit from ebay or wemoto for about £25, for that you get the brushes, plastic insulator, seals and washers, but you don't get the T bolt though, but like Tonymon advised me, you can make one from a roofing bolt.
Regards the locking nut, grind a spanner down or just make one out of a piece of 3mm flat bar, or borrow one of the kids cycle spanner, ya know, the one with loads of cut out nut sizes on it.
Last edited by cheekykev on Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
As others have said, if you allow the bolt to spin too far it will break the internal insulator that insulates the bolt from the starter motor gubbins, so be careful. I too ground down an old spanner thin enough to fit under the heavy duty cable terminal.
In answer to your question, I would fit a new nut personally, but I'm fussy
Chris.
In answer to your question, I would fit a new nut personally, but I'm fussy

Chris.
- davebonline
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:21 pm
Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
Thanks for the help everyone. I found a slim 10mm spanner but could not budge the outer nut (which started to round off) so I decided to go down the hacksaw route. Worked a treat
Cut the outer nut in half, removed the terminal and gave everything a decent wire brush and clean up. Put it all back together with a new nut and plenty of Teflon grease. Seems sorted now 
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Re: RE: Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
that is the last time I let you borrow my size 11 stilettos you cheeky bastidKermitLeFrog wrote:
Not my idea to saw down through the stud, t'was Alison's. And a top tip too. No more problems.
AMcQ
Re: Starter Motor Terminal - Would You Bother?
Good man, well donedavebonline wrote:Thanks for the help everyone. I found a slim 10mm spanner but could not budge the outer nut (which started to round off) so I decided to go down the hacksaw route. Worked a treatCut the outer nut in half, removed the terminal and gave everything a decent wire brush and clean up. Put it all back together with a new nut and plenty of Teflon grease. Seems sorted now
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Now if you ever do need to remove the starter motor you won't have a rusted nut to take care of first

Chris.