KZ1300 Starter Clutch locking up.

Hey folks,

I also mod a small Yahoo group about 1300's, it's called KawaSixes.

One of the members there has a problem with a starter clutch, to wit:

"Hi Guys, Heres a very strange problem that I am having with my 1979 Z1300. That I have owned since new.
A little background first.
It always had a slipping starter clutch, not enough that it never started, but enough to be annoying.
So in a big recondition everything, I bought a new starter clutch, and an almost new clutch gear wheel from David. (they are a discontinued part)
The new model starter clutch should have omitted 3, 2mm washers, but didn’t, which caused the 3 bolts sit proud and engage the gear wheel causing the destruction of 2 starter motors.
A message of complaint and photos to Kawasaki had them ask me to send them all the bits, which I did. (David put up a post about this)
They admitted fault and sent me a new starter clutch and a new starter motor.
Most commendable!!
But, when I fitted these all-new bits, as per factory manual, the clutch wont release after the motor starts.
The gear wheel behind the clutch spins freely with the engine stopped, and with the idler gear fitted its possible to turn the starter the wrong way.
When I turn the engine over with a spanner the clutch is released, but not when the engine starts????.’
Any ideas out there ? anyone?"

To which I answered:

"I'm sure you know that the rollers are supposed to be pushed away from the idler
sprocket boss by the centripetal acceleration of the motor running. If the
rollers are able to move freely as I'm sure your's are, I'd look at the outside
diameter of the boss on the idler sprocket. Many times a mechanic will attempt
to smooth out the wear marks with some emery cloth. I'm just postulating here,
but my thought is that if the effective diameter of the boss is too small the
rollers are able to travel so far that they actually wedge into a position where
the centripetal acceleration isn't enough to pull them back.

Just a thought.
Bill"

I've been trying to coax these folks toward KZR. Can any one come up with a better explanation?

TIA

KZCSI

am i wrong here or are they the same as a 900/1000 starter clutch?
i thought they were.

kawsakiman wrote:

am i wrong here or are they the same as a 900/1000 starter clutch?
i thought they were.

Hi Steve,

Yes I believe they're the same on each model.

Bill