Rick's Motorsport Electrics has been providing aftermarket starter motors for over 30 years. Rick's manufacturers new and rebuilds custom starter motors for motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, off road, street bikes, & snowmobiles.
Starter Motors
A starter motor is a device that turns your engine over when you start your vehicle. As the starter motor rotates the crankshaft, the combustion process starts. Once the engine is running, the starter motor disengages.
Read on to learn more about how starter motors work and how Rick’s Motorsport Electrics can help you find the perfect new or custom rebuilt starter motor for your motorcycle, ATV, UTV, street bike, or snowmobile.
How do Starter Motors Work?
Internal combustion engines aren’t able to start themselves — they need some type of external source of power to get up and running. This is where starter motors come in.
Starter motors are generally electric motors that engage when you turn the ignition and push the starter button, or turn the key to the start position. Once engaged, they turn the engine over and allow it to start sucking in air.
Most motorcycles, ATVs, watercraft, and side by sides use a system that direct-drives a one way clutch attached to the crankshaft of the engine. Once the engine starts, the one way clutch disengages the starter motor from the running engine.
A second type of starter engagement is the typical automotive system that launches a pinion gear to engage with a ring gear attached to the engine’s crankshaft. As the engine starts, the pinion is retracted and disengages itself from the running engine.
Common Starter Motor Issues
Starter motors can have a number of issues that can lead to their damage or failure.
A starter motor that is drawing too much amperage may cause the engine to crank very slowly. Starter motors may also have issues with the solenoid, which may or may not be built directly into the starter.
Starters can also have mechanical issues, in which case a rebuild or replacement is typically necessary. Starter motors may also fail if the teeth on the ring gear or one-way clutch are damaged. In these cases, the flywheel or clutch may have to be replaced.
Rebuilding Starter Motors with Care
Starter motors are one of the most used and most important components of any vehicle. They are what helps start the engine and allow it to run on its own. The starter is the piece that sets everything else into motion, so it’s important to ensure that it is always in good condition.
Starter motors are put under a lot of pressure, and as they age, they are likely to endure some problems, from gear tooth failure to windings coming loose or shorting out. When this happens, it’s important to repair, rebuild, or replace the starter as quickly as possible.
Rick's Motorsport Electrics has been providing high-quality aftermarket starter motors for over 30 years. We offer our customers new and rebuilt custom starter motors for motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, street bikes, snowmobiles, and other vehicles.
We understand the importance of quality workmanship, which is why we only use high-quality materials and industry-leading manufacturing standards to create best-in-class starter motors that bolt on as direct replacements for OEM.
All rebuilt starters require a core exchange and come with a one-year replacement warranty. On all of our starter motor rebuilds, the entire armature is replaced or reconditioned as well as any brushes/brush plates. Most rebuilt starter motors have a core charge that will be refunded once you send your old piece back to us.
Find Out More
Starter motors are a critical component in any motor vehicle. A broken or damaged starter motor can cause damage to your vehicle’s engine and prevent the engine from starting in the first place.
At Rick’s Motorsport Electrics, we’ve been rebuilding high-quality starter motors for over three decades. We’ll help you rebuild or replace your starter motor as quickly as possible so that you can get back out on (or off) the road.
