Hello brianmac !
I have been monitoring your posts for some time now, because I also own
a 1980 SD Darmah that I purchased only 3 weeks ago. After happily riding
it home 12 miles from the point of purchase, the bike refused to make the
slightest sound the following day. After 4 full days of brainstorming, worrying
about the starter and the solenoid, etc.... I realized that the starter motor
still worked after bridging the two solenoid terminals with a screw driver.
I then focused on the solenoid, finding a remarkably similar automobile
(jeep ?) solenoid at a local car parts shop. Its made by Wells and is part#
AM432 and cost about $16.00 if you want to try it.
After fitting the new solenoid and still getting nothing from the starter switch,
I realized that it had to be a wiring problem. Sure enough, one of the 3 wires
coming from the starter switch had a corroded connection in a plastic 3 pin
connector box buried deeply under the other wires below the fuel tank.
So, assuming you have already determined that its not a wire connection
problem, I just came across some new and used starters and solenoids
at
www.mdinaitalia.co.uk They are somewhat pricy, not to mention the
added cost of shipping from England, but when you're really stuck, you
sometimes have to let the money fly.
Anyway, good luck, hope this has been of some help.
girardfox
I have two bad starter motors. There both the same. 1978 and 1980 models .Does anyone know of a replacement or a rebuild place? There Magnetti/ Morrelli's and I heard that maybe a Fiat Starter might work. My Darmah is elec. start only and I can't ride the beastie. Please help.