starter rotating backwards??????

[ducksps]

My starter is rotating clockwise as viewed from the alternator side of the engine. The battery is in correctly and positive current is flowing into the positive side as measured through a multimeter. The bike started making a wirring noise starting one day and I thought it was the sprag clutch having failed. The sprag is fine the damn starter is just spinning the wrong way.

Can anyone verify the proper rotation of the starter from the flywheel side?

Has anyone ever seen this before?

Does anyone have a spare starter?

The motor does turn counterclockwise when viewed from the flywheel side.

Thanks so much,
Chris
www.everyauto.com

[venturaII]

Maybe you have a model from the Southern Hemisphere!

[kiwifalco]

I know absolutely nothing of electrics except don't piss on an electric fence as free willy takes on a whole new meaning. Wouldn't your problem mean that you are running DC polarity.

[CarlosT]

Originally posted by venturaII
Maybe you have a model from the Southern Hemisphere!

I thought that only aplied to the rotation of effluent in toilets

[pbigoney]

Two possibilities.
A. You have somehow crossed polarity to the starter. Seems unlikely though .

B. The communator on the starter has spun or slipped. I would dismantle the strater, check the communtator. This is the part that the contact brushes ride on. See if this can be rotated or is loose.
C. Take the starter to a starter / alternator repair shop. They can test it for current leaks, and so forth even though they may nove have much in parts.

[JoeJoe]

Duck,
Why did you start looking at the starter? Were u having a problem and pulled it?

[ducksps]

I actually never thought to look at the starter till I pulled the flywheel(DAMN) and found it was fine. This has my self and some very good mechanics really stumped. I have a buddies Mille that I am going to tear into next week and hopefully verify some issues.