starter/starter clutch grinding

Hi guys, I have been trolling around this forum for a while and have managed to get most answers I need without signing up, however I felt it was time I did sign up to start contributing to the community, and I have a more in-depth question to ask.

My starter, or some part of the starting system has been grinding. I suspected it was the starter clutch.

Bike in question: 1977 KZ650-B

I put the bike on its center stand, and it only took me a few hours to disassemble everything and get the starter clutch out of the engine.

I cannot understand what is grinding inside, the rollers in the starter clutch look a tiny bit scratched, but it doesn't look like anything to severe.

Can anyone give any insight as to what this problem might be?

I had ruled out the starter motor itself grinding, I think, I put the bike into first gear and then held both brakes and tried to start it. You could hear the starter motor humming because it was trying to turn over, but nothing was grinding.

On a side note, does the secondary shaft berring on sprocket cover side need to be flush with the block? Or does it need to be a few centimeters into the block.

Thanks!

Did you try cranking it with the cover off to see and hear whats happening in there ?? I'd say starter clutch just a guess...

You may want to take a look at the rotor for the alternator under the left engine cover. If it comes loose from the crank a little it will not engage the starter correctly and grind a little. The 650 should be the same as the 900 as far as that goes

i do not mean to be disrespectful, but 900/1000 people need to stop giving advice on the 650/750 starters they are very different. it is inside the engine not under the rotor.
is the grinding all the time or intermittent? sounds like a slipping starter clutch, also sometime the housing the rollers are in can crack and while the roller and springs look good can still give you problems like grinding

paulstanely45 wrote:

the rollers in the starter clutch look a tiny bit scratched, but it doesn't look like anything to severe.

Can anyone give any insight as to what this problem might be?!

The rollers shouldn't look scratched. I tore mine down (75k miles) and the rollers look fine.

I would suspect grinding is the rollers slipping on the surface of the gear shaft it is supposed to lock down on.

Any drag marks on that side?

Do the rollers pop in and out easily under their springs pressure?

EDIT: never mind if your starter is not like the rest of them. If it is internal to the engine, I haven't serviced it.

I put it back together today, and it looks like the clutch is slipping. I replaced the rollers, springs, and pushers (My father had a spare set laying around). The problem is slightly better, I suspect that it could be the housing for the rollers. There are a few places around town where I might be able to obtain another one.

The gear that the rollers catch looks fine, on a side note.

Im really glad these things have a kick start!

I managed to track down a new starter clutch at a local bike shop. He had an old KZ650 motor and a frame sitting in the back, luckily enough for me I had all the tools I needed in my truck to remove it. He was right impressed with how fast I got it out, must of took only 30 mins.

Ill let you guys know how it goes!