DIY: Honda XR200 Starter overhaul

My bike doesn't have a kickstart but other year model does.. so knowing issues caused by your bike starter is very essential.

Flowchart to diagnose if its the starter causing the problem:

********************flowchart will follow******************

Points of failure:
-stuck contact brushes due to dirt
-carbon brush: no contact to the armature due to wear
-cut-off wire from the carbon brush
-shorted armature windings > thank God I haven't experienced this

HEADS-UP
In my case since I did some rewiring due to battery relocation. I was able experience an issue where there wasn't enough current going to the starter. I noticed this after following my usual checks (follow flowchart). After that experience, I installed a LED that lights up when there is steady flow of current while pressing on the starter switch.

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How to dismantle starter:

 In order to gain access to the starter, we have to remove the bike exhaust.

We then take off 2 bolts holding down the starter and the (+) wire from the battery.

Using a 7mm wrench open 2 bolts from the starter. Extra careful on the O-rings, these can break depending on age but can easily be replaced with replacement parts using other starters of similar size

Just take photos if your not too comfortable in taking stuff apart.

At this point, it is now the best part to do visual inspection if you have worn brushes or you are with a broken wires. After inspection, its would also be the best time to clean the contacts and everything inside. Do not expose O-rings to chemicals that would damage it. I suggest using CARB Cleaner, its fast acting on grease and dries quickly. You can also take the contacts off of the guides after getting those nasty coil springs.

Use logic to put everything together. Remember that the bolt going thru the hole for the (+) wire to the battery should not by any means make contact the starter housing or else you will short circuit it. 

Hope this helps:)

Change you own motorcycle oil!

There is only one reason why I do this on my own now! Its easy.. yup as long as you have the right tool, we can certainly do it ourselves. But we all have to keep in mind to dispose the used oil properly. In my case, our garbage collection have their own way of disposing used oils.

As for this blog, I won't be discussing the advantage of doing this regularly to your beloved bikes. As for me since this bike is my daily commuter then I most of the time change the oil atleast 1 a month or maximum of 2 months of using the bike.

There are different kinds of oil. I would prefer the cheap ones like oils with SAE 40 grade than 10W- 40. I believe its good for my bike and for practicality too.. I do this regularly so why spend that much when you can just buy a liter at 175 pesos:)

If you wanna know better or feed your thirst on the subject then read on.

using PTT Max Speed SAE 40 oil @ 175/liter

using ice-cream container as my drain

WARNING! secure side stand when kids are around!

oil drail is 24 mm 

After draining oil from the bike, I let it sit for sometime while doing other stuff at home. This is why I do it at home, I get to do other stuff while waiting for most of the oil to drip. You would want to clean the oil filter found inside the oil drain. Close the oil drain and pour new oil on the other side of the bikes engine where you have your oils dip stick! Thats about it! Drive safe everyone...