starter motor oil seal

[Jaydela180]

Has anyone had luck replacing starter to crankcase oil seal without having to remove left side gear train cover. Trying to make this fix as simple as possible, but want to make sure gears will all match up when installing starter after new seal.

 

[Jaydela180]

Or, has anyone swapped starter motors without pulling gear train cover? Just wanna know if I'm gonna be fighting a losing battle by doing this blindly.

 

[5twins]

The starter is heavy. It's easy to bugger up the seal in the case with the starter nose gear if you can't watch while you insert it. I'm not saying it isn't possible to install the starter your way, it's just going to be harder and you run a higher risk of damaging the seal.

 

[Jaydela180]

Looks like I'll be taking off that cover then. Your knowledge here and throughout the website is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[gggGary]

If I remove the starter motor with bike on center stand will oil run out? ie do I gotta dump the sump?

 

[5twins]

Indeed it will, and big time too, lol. Notice the little rod sticking down into the starter gear area on the upper right .....

That's the end of your dip stick and the low oil mark on it is at least 1/2" up from the bottom of it. The end of the starter and the starter seal are completely under the oil level.

 

[gggGary]

sump is dumped LOL 800 miles on the oil but 2 years also.

 

[xjwmx]

No, the oil will magically stay in, as you discovered...?

 

[5twins]

So, the question is, did the sump dump through the starter hole or the drain plugs? lol

 

[gggGary]

Yeah!
Opened my eyes and used the drain plugs. before removing the starter.

 

[gggGary]

Don't know why it was turning so slow.

It had plenty of oil in it....

http://www.xs650.com/threads/electric-start-turns-over-but-won’t-fire.52174/#post-552094


Cleaned up and installed a different starter. Brrm brrm now. First oil filled starter I've run into on an XS650.
This did have leaky petcocks a ways back that dumped gas in the crankcase, maybe it swelled the seal. .
PS it didn't seem to be an issue pulling and replacing the starter without opening the starter gearcase.