Starter clutches.l

After riding KZ for thirty-two years it seem that the biggest boogieman is the problem with the starter clutch on selected models. I know that the 550's suffer from this malady. Which other models have the starter clutches buried in the tranny?

I know that my 900 has an easily accessible starter clutch and can only wonder why it's not the same on all the KZ's?

I've already posted about the 550 I picked up and I think that we could benefit KZdom by working together to formulate a simple, or as simple as possible, program to keep these KZ's on the road.

I'm going to start on the spare engine I just picked up and document every step.

I've got to admit that I was disheartened to see that after I fix the starter clutch, I'm still the proud owner of a $750.00 bike.

KZCSI

KZCSI wrote:

...I know that my 900 has an easily accessible starter clutch and can only wonder why it's not the same on all the KZ's?

It's quite easy to get at on my bikes, too. I permanently took all the working components out of my starter clutches. no more starter clutch explosions for me!

I've already posted about the 550 I picked up and I think that we could benefit KZdom by working together to formulate a simple, or as simple as possible, program to keep these KZ's on the road...

Retrofitted kick-starters for everyone!

i have that problem with my 550 ltd..81' but the bike is worth the effort if i can get it apart and back again after 36,000 miles its still a great little bike ...if anyone has a service manual let me know...starter clutch---winter project...

The 650 also has an internal starter clutch. Although not as weak as the one in the 750 twins, I did replace one this past spring. It's not a difficult job for the mechanically inclined.

I have a more precise description of its replacement somewhere on the forums.

Here´s a link to a write-up (pdf) I did when I fixed the starter clutch on my 650:

KZ650/750 four starter clutch

I've had no end of troubles with my starter clutch, fortunately on the 400 it's very accessible, I can take it apart and put it the whole thing back together in under an hour.

oh i don't know 30-35 years is a pretty good service life for a starter system. they are a bit of a pain to replace, with the 650/750 i think being the worst, and that one is not too terrible. i think what leads to most failures are bike that are in a poor state of tune and the owner sit a crank, and crank, and crank.
most of my bikes are in pretty decent shape mechanically and they will pop off in a couple seconds or so, and if they do not i will stop and kick start it.
but the 750 twin system, yea, that one is kinda bad.