starter problems, just spins

[yamtom]

Hi,
On my new 79 special, the starter worked fine last fall. Now I tried to start it, on three attempts within five minutes of each other the starter would turn over the engine, but the starter sounded like it would disconnect and spin freely when the engine did not start. After charging the battery, the starter an hour later, just spins and doesnt connect to the engine to roll it over.
I did some searching, and came to the conclusion that the starter clutch is prolly not connecting, and this may be due to having summer weight oil in the engine. Is this starter likely at all to work if I just put lighter oil in the engine? I do have a kickstarter for it, and will try that, but I know I would rather have a working electric starter.

In addition to the above mentioned standard kick starter for the 11, I have an xs 750 engine with its kick starter. I believe the seven fifty is about a 77 maybe. Is this folding kick starter likely to work on the eleven from 79? The eleven doesnt presently have side covers so the info from search with its warning about hitting the side cover isnt valid at least for now.

Please tell me , what is the likely outcome here. HELP

[strom]

Happened to my parts bike when I got it... Started it somehow a few times, took a few short rides and it works now.
Looks like the starter clutch does not engage... prolly some goo or something in there that should clear up once it runs a bit and the oil gets warmed up.

Good luck!

[petejw]

i read not to long ago, 1 of the boys removed the
starter motor and squirted some oil in there and
that fixed his problem, the bike had been sitting for a while
as well, havent tried this myself but wouldnt hurt to try.

i had this problem on my other engine, it could take anywhere
up2 15 minutes to get that thing to engage, especially in winter,

a well tuned engine, a lighter weight oil, and a fully charged battery
always helps, ive also heard of ppl using a heater to warm the sump
area to help but again havent tried that myself.

[natemoen]

The 750 kick lever will work

[CatatonicBug]

I have the same problem on rare occasions, usually when it's unseasonably cold in the fall. However, once I switch to winter oil, I see the problem a lot less often. Almost never in the middle of summer.

[yamtom]

thanks guys

Hi ,
Once again channel 11 comes thru, and super fast too. Thanks all you guys, will try the stuff above and see what happens. If there is any more info regarding this topic, please post.

I am thinking that the initial turnovers that the starter accomplished, basically pushed the summer weight oil into the rollers and now they are sticky since its still only thirty five degrees in the garage. I am going to put the 750 kicker on, and warm the sump, then if I get er going, change to an oil in the lighter range. Will see if there is a fiveW oil that is available in the wet clutch type.

[motoman]

Sounds like you need some heat in the man-cave Yamtom, and would'nt go that light with the oil. Thirty years ago, not having a garage I would put a heat lamp under the motor and have the bike covered so it would start in the morming at a -20F ....Definitely a cold ten mile ride in the winter in Colo. At times it was a no-go when that cold as the starter would either disengage, not engage, etc. Back then I ran 20-50W oil year round in the bike as I still do now, but a 65degree man-cave makes for easy starts now for some occassional winter riding. A heat lamp under the motor or lay on top of starter will make it happier and more cooperative since scoots and -20F were not meant to intermingle anyways.

[xs11lover]

I have to go along with the heat idea. I had one that would drop out like that all the time when it was really cold....and never in the summer.