Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi all,

I am chasing a little bit of information from anyone ejamakated, in starter motors and the like.
I have recently bought a VTR1000, an upgrade from the ol 91 ZZR600.
Anyway the VTR starter is spinning ( sounds kinda like a workshop rattle gun) but doesn't throw out to mesh the gear and start the bike.
I was waondering if anyone else has struck the issue and has a fix?

If it were a car, I'd say the solenoid had gone, and wasn't throwing the gear out, rather just the stator was spinning hence the sound?

So can anyone help, I am guessing the starter motor needs to be replaced? Any ideas on cost?

Cheers
mick015

You are not going to like this but it sounds like your starter sprag has shit itself

In case your wondering, cars and bikes use different starter mechanism, there's no solenoid to throw the arm out to start a bike motor, rather the starter is contactly in mesh, just like the gearbox. its just that there are some springloaded roller bearings that only engage when the clutch is rotated one way. When the clutch is rotated the other way or the crank is turning under its own power it wont transfer the rotatioin back to the starter.

Logistics wise a buggered sprag clutch isn't too bad a thing, means that the side cover off the engine needs to be taken off. 3-4 securing screws need to be taken off the sprag clutch & the cog & cprag clutch replaced. There is always the likelyhood that the rollers themselves have developed flat spots or the springs are shot, both of which mean you only have to replace just the innards instead of the entire housing as well. However if the housing is damaged (most likely due to damage from the roller bearings bouncing around and no longer siting straight) then it too will have to be replaced.

Thanks for your tips........ I'll check it out and see about pulling it apart.
I had guessed that the starters used a different mechanism, I was a mechanic many moons ago, but have never played with bikes... so wanted to double check my theory before I pulled it apart.

Cheers
Mick015

Put the new sprag in....... and still no better, had a chat with the mechanic at the bike shop and was told to replace the starter driven gear also. The starter is spinning, the gear is spinning but the sprag isn't doing its part. Apparently the driven gear which the starter runs on can be worn beyond use.... apparently this is a fine line.... so a new gear it is. trouble is parts are a little hard to come by.
Honda Aus has none, so off too Japan....Honda Japan have none so its a production run, sometime in the next month!

HINT always replace them as a pair!

Put the new sprag in....... and still no better, had a chat with the mechanic at the bike shop and was told to replace the starter driven gear also. The starter is spinning, the gear is spinning but the sprag isn't doing its part. Apparently the driven gear which the starter runs on can be worn beyond use.... apparently this is a fine line.... so a new gear it is. trouble is parts are a little hard to come by.
Honda Aus has none, so off too Japan....Honda Japan have none so its a production run, sometime in the next month!

HINT always replace them as a pair!

And post as a pair too