Starter Motors. OEM, Aftermarket, Rebuild?

MXP
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MXP

The Starter on my 2023 YZ450F went bad. Plenty of 2022 starters, only motosport.com, and Rockymountainatvmc.com carry OEMs for 2023 and beyond.

What are you guys doing when your starter motor goes south?

Thanks.

1
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Heavyhitter
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Heavyhitter 12/5/2025 3:50pm
12/5/2025 3:50pm

I've ran fire power starters on a few of my bikes with no issues yet!

Timo
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Timo 12/5/2025 3:58pm
12/5/2025 3:58pm

Couple of questions:

Is the motor bad or the one way clutch?

Did the fuse blow? If so, double check to make sure the supply wire didn't rub or melt and short out blowing the fuse.

If it's the motor what failed on it? Shorted windings, bad bearings, gear teeth sheer off?

If it's windings just buy a new OEM motor.

If it's bearings, try replacing them. Worse that can happen is you fuck up the windings or shaft and have to buy a new OEM motor.

If it's the gear I believe you can get a new one, so replace it.

 

3
MXP
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MXP 12/5/2025 6:07pm
12/5/2025 6:07pm
Timo wrote:
Couple of questions:Is the motor bad or the one way clutch?Did the fuse blow? If so, double check to make sure the supply wire didn't rub...

Couple of questions:

Is the motor bad or the one way clutch?

Did the fuse blow? If so, double check to make sure the supply wire didn't rub or melt and short out blowing the fuse.

If it's the motor what failed on it? Shorted windings, bad bearings, gear teeth sheer off?

If it's windings just buy a new OEM motor.

If it's bearings, try replacing them. Worse that can happen is you fuck up the windings or shaft and have to buy a new OEM motor.

If it's the gear I believe you can get a new one, so replace it.

 

There's power to the starter, it started turning slow, then started locking up. If it clicks, and I tap it, it will turn.

Village Idiot
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Village Idiot 12/5/2025 6:11pm
12/5/2025 6:11pm
Timo wrote:
Couple of questions:Is the motor bad or the one way clutch?Did the fuse blow? If so, double check to make sure the supply wire didn't rub...

Couple of questions:

Is the motor bad or the one way clutch?

Did the fuse blow? If so, double check to make sure the supply wire didn't rub or melt and short out blowing the fuse.

If it's the motor what failed on it? Shorted windings, bad bearings, gear teeth sheer off?

If it's windings just buy a new OEM motor.

If it's bearings, try replacing them. Worse that can happen is you fuck up the windings or shaft and have to buy a new OEM motor.

If it's the gear I believe you can get a new one, so replace it.

 

MXP wrote:

There's power to the starter, it started turning slow, then started locking up. If it clicks, and I tap it, it will turn.

Possibly just a cheap set of brushes?

3

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Timo
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Timo 12/5/2025 6:13pm
12/5/2025 6:13pm
Timo wrote:
Couple of questions:Is the motor bad or the one way clutch?Did the fuse blow? If so, double check to make sure the supply wire didn't rub...

Couple of questions:

Is the motor bad or the one way clutch?

Did the fuse blow? If so, double check to make sure the supply wire didn't rub or melt and short out blowing the fuse.

If it's the motor what failed on it? Shorted windings, bad bearings, gear teeth sheer off?

If it's windings just buy a new OEM motor.

If it's bearings, try replacing them. Worse that can happen is you fuck up the windings or shaft and have to buy a new OEM motor.

If it's the gear I believe you can get a new one, so replace it.

 

MXP wrote:

There's power to the starter, it started turning slow, then started locking up. If it clicks, and I tap it, it will turn.

Order the $12 brush set and all the o-rings, try rebuilding it. You could probably just clean them, but for $12 bucks just get new. 

3
MXP
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MXP 12/5/2025 7:47pm
12/5/2025 7:47pm
Timo wrote:
Couple of questions:Is the motor bad or the one way clutch?Did the fuse blow? If so, double check to make sure the supply wire didn't rub...

Couple of questions:

Is the motor bad or the one way clutch?

Did the fuse blow? If so, double check to make sure the supply wire didn't rub or melt and short out blowing the fuse.

If it's the motor what failed on it? Shorted windings, bad bearings, gear teeth sheer off?

If it's windings just buy a new OEM motor.

If it's bearings, try replacing them. Worse that can happen is you fuck up the windings or shaft and have to buy a new OEM motor.

If it's the gear I believe you can get a new one, so replace it.

 

MXP wrote:

There's power to the starter, it started turning slow, then started locking up. If it clicks, and I tap it, it will turn.

Timo wrote:

Order the $12 brush set and all the o-rings, try rebuilding it. You could probably just clean them, but for $12 bucks just get new. 

I'll give that a try. Thanks!

1
Fouled Plug 12/6/2025 6:51am
12/6/2025 6:51am
roczen-kickstarter

 

I joke. I think I have to going on one of my motorcycles. I'll be in the same boat.

4
OldTech
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OldTech 12/6/2025 6:58am
12/6/2025 6:58am
MXP wrote:

I'll give that a try. Thanks!

Before you take it apart, do yourself a favor and mark the caps with a sharpie or paint pen.

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CPan
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CPan 12/6/2025 10:03am
12/6/2025 10:03am
Heavyhitter wrote:

I've ran fire power starters on a few of my bikes with no issues yet!

I was just on the firepower site looking for a starter for my 2021 CRF, and they don’t have one listed. I find that odd considering they were a title sponsor of a Honda team. 

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MXP
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MXP 12/6/2025 2:42pm
12/6/2025 2:42pm
MXP wrote:

I'll give that a try. Thanks!

OldTech wrote:

Before you take it apart, do yourself a favor and mark the caps with a sharpie or paint pen.

Thanks for the tip! It's funny, when I work on cars I have automatic procedures like marking things, etc. But if I work on my bike, too often it all seems to go out the window. lol

1
Mit12
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Mit12 12/7/2025 7:13am
12/7/2025 7:13am

There are starter motor shops all over google a couple of places and see if they can do a repair. I had a V8 Evenrude 2 stroke out board engine that I ported and raised the compression the original starter motor was not strong enough. I got a starter motor repair shop to rewind the armature and get that thing to spin up quick. 

MXP
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MXP 12/7/2025 4:07pm
12/7/2025 4:07pm
Mit12 wrote:
There are starter motor shops all over google a couple of places and see if they can do a repair. I had a V8 Evenrude 2...

There are starter motor shops all over google a couple of places and see if they can do a repair. I had a V8 Evenrude 2 stroke out board engine that I ported and raised the compression the original starter motor was not strong enough. I got a starter motor repair shop to rewind the armature and get that thing to spin up quick. 

I took it apart, and was surprised to see what a mess it was after only 2 to 3 years.

(I started cleaning it before the photos)

1000008803.jpg?VersionId=JSSygxL5ptsKIUeK1IknE1000008802.jpg?VersionId=r2rSJwrmCQmN2KGJm9S7oVAkn

Fortunately, a friend surprised me with someone he knows, that could get their hands on a new one at no cost. 🙏🙌

Thanks everyone, for all your help!

Village Idiot
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Village Idiot 12/7/2025 4:27pm
12/7/2025 4:27pm
MXP wrote:
I took it apart, and was surprised to see what a mess it was after only 2 to 3 years.(I started cleaning it before the photos)Fortunately...

I took it apart, and was surprised to see what a mess it was after only 2 to 3 years.

(I started cleaning it before the photos)

1000008803.jpg?VersionId=JSSygxL5ptsKIUeK1IknE1000008802.jpg?VersionId=r2rSJwrmCQmN2KGJm9S7oVAkn

Fortunately, a friend surprised me with someone he knows, that could get their hands on a new one at no cost. 🙏🙌

Thanks everyone, for all your help!

Can't beat the price! 

Congrats! 👍

1

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