starter issues

[tab1324]

I went to start the bike the other day and it seems the starter doesn't want to disengage. There's a whiney noise coming from it and when I rev the engine sligthly, the whine revs too. I pulled the starter and it doesn't have the in / out movement on the gear I thought there would be. Is this easily repairable or am I looking at a rebuild / replacement?

Tom B.

[GNEPIG]

.. the starter clutch is in the case, check to see if you have water in your switch housing (where the starter button is), or if the starter button is disingaging, could also be your starter silenoid going bad. all of this would be easer than checking the starter clutches

[tab1324]

starter clutch?

You say this is in the case? The engine case? Sounds serious. I think this is what it is. The other problems you describe don't seem to be an issue. The starter runs when I hold the button and quits when I release it.

Tom B.

[Bauer]

Whats the temp you are trying to start the motor at?
What viscosity oil are you running.

what im getting at is that cold weather = thick oil which can cause the starter clutch to not want to engage. I had this problem on my bike when I first started it this spring, 30-40 degree days.

Try warming the bike up, trouble light, heat lamp, heated garage, any of these will work and see if the clutch will enage then. It sounds to me like the clutch is not engaging.

Hope this helps.

[GNEPIG]

.. ok Tom, can the whining noise be coming from something else?
you can try putting your bike in first gear and moving it as far as it will go back and forth a few times then put it back in nuetal and see if it still sounds the same, there is a chance you are not all of the way in neutal.

[tab1324]

more details

You're all asking good questions so I'l try to explain the problem in more detail to narrow it down.

-Whining noise when starting
-bike starts and runs fine - seems to be in nuetral as when I'm on the center stand, the back wheel doesn't move.
-I noticed last summer a few times that this had happened and the noise went away. Also last summer, there were a few occasions that the starter would spin but didn't seem to engage (engine didn't turn over)
-When starting (now) temperatures are around 55 deg. F.
-Oil is Valvoline 20W/50 motorcycle oil from Fleet Farm - has run well on this for the 2 years I've owned the bike.
-Starter button turns the starter only when I press it. When I release it, the starter motor stops. I haven't checked the switch housing for moisture but I'll do this tonight and see what's up - I don't think it's an issue though.

Based on all of this, am I right in assuming it's the starter clutch? If so, has anyone ever done the job of repairing it and what's your thoughts?

This does not make my day - I was looking forward to getting her going soon. I've got a baby on the way so all my time is being spent remodeling.

Maybe it's time to sell it and move on... I know, now I'm just feeling sorry for myself...

Tom B.

[GNEPIG]

.. i have something else you can try. not running- shift the bike into 2nd gear, roll the bike backwards with the clutch engaged and you will hear the sound of the starter rotating, then roll the bike forward and if it sounds like it did when you rolled it backward then the starter clutch is stuck, if this is the case then splitting the engine cases is in your future