Starter Clutch..

[cywelchjr]

Hi Cy,
what XS650s all have is a "safety interlock" that won't let the starter work once the alternator starts making current.
On XS650s built after the "headlight on at all times" laws, that same interlock has a second relay that turns the headlight on.
Later XS650s, perhaps '81s or '82s but certainly my Canadian '84 Heritage Special, have a sidestand switch that cuts out the ignition if the bike is put into gear with the stand still down.

Interesting that the 400's and 1100's don't have that. I wonder if the 750's and 850's are also missing that. Is there a difference in how the starter hooks in on the 650's? I know the 400 uses a system similar to the 1100 with a clutch, so other than running the battery down and burning up the motor, I don't think you can hurt anything else by running the starter when the engine is running.

[clcorbin]

Any issues with clutch slippage?

Occasionally when I get on it just right. But then, I had pretty much the same issues (as far as I could tell/remember) when running dino oil. The only difference I could see where the dino oil DID work better was the starter clutch. On dino oil, it almost NEVER slipped. ON synth, it would slip quite frequently, usually on the first turn over.

For me, the overall decrease in friction was worth the slipping starter clutch. It's not like it refused to start, it just didn't want to spin things over on the first stab!

[jetmechmarty]

Fred,

The sidestand down interlock started with the '82 model on the XS650. Perhaps the XJ1100 has it?