Starter wont grab

Happy New Year Everyone!

First, the back story. Ever since I picked up my KZ750, when starting, the starter sounds like it slips every now and then. Can press start and as it's cranking, sometimes it would stop spinning the motor and just spin the starter. When the weather gets colder, it would take more and more cranking to get it to turn over. In the process of it taking longer, the starter would do the same as above, keep slipping. Sometimes it would eventually turn over, other times not. I'm assuming the colder weather was making the motor harder to turn, and in return makes the starter work harder. As this past season came to a close, the starter started slipping even when warmer and eventually barely even grabs the motor anymore.

I pulled the starter, and that looks fine. The teeth are good and it spins and looks like it engages fine. So the question is, is it the gear going to the motor? I looked at the manual, it seems like its a good amount of work to get this job done, where basically everything has to come out through the bottom of the motor. Also, the clutch has to come out according to it which doesn't sound fun either.

So the question, is the gear what this problem sounds like? And I'm assuming someone here has replaced it/them before. How tips or ease of install? I appreciate it a ton! Thanks

Hi David,

Your starter clutch is failing. I'll look about for a discussion about it and add it to this post in a few minutes.

Bill

Here's one:
www.kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/596754-co...r-clutch-wear#656562

Here's another. The starter clutches on the 550's, 650's and 750 fours are very similar:
www.kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/595515-kz...tarter-clutch#655091

David, what oil are you using? Hope it's 10-40 that JASO-MA certified.

Some good reading in those threads. I'll go through them and check it out,


So would the starter clutch be #3 or #14??

The oil is what was recommend across this board (don't remember which weight) but for sure JASO-MA certified.

The starter clutch is comprised of 9, 10, 11 &12. There are of course three each of the 10, 11 & 12. Pay particular attention to part #14 as it has the hub or clutch surface upon which the rollers bite. I've never done the starter clutch on a 750 four but I have done a 550. It can be done with the engine still in the frame.

Good luck!
Bill

#9....inside the three slots......are springs , bushing ,etc..not shown on this diagram

KZCSI wrote: I've never done the starter clutch on a 750 four but I have done a 550. It can be done with the engine still in the frame.

Good luck!
Bill

Did you work from underneath or put the bike on it's side? Never done this in-frame, always seems a very awkward job even when the motor is on the bench. I even heard of a bike turned upside down to do it! :S

Might be a sloppy chain.

swest wrote: Might be a sloppy chain.

I've heard of camchains jumping a tooth, even heard of a couple of primary chains breaking but never primary chains slipping? Even new they have quite a lot of slack in them. After 50k miles they are usually getting noisy.

Starter clutch slipping has a distinctive screech to it without the sound of the engine turning over, it was quite a common repair back in the day.

Tyrell Corp wrote:

KZCSI wrote: I've never done the starter clutch on a 750 four but I have done a 550. It can be done with the engine still in the frame.

Good luck!
Bill

Did you work from underneath or put the bike on it's side? Never done this in-frame, always seems a very awkward job even when the motor is on the bench. I even heard of a bike turned upside down to do it! :S

swest: There is no chain associated with the starter. The primary chains typically outlast the rest of the bike.

Bill

Fucking awful noise. Wouldn't say easily done in the frame but have done it a couple of times - real convenient if you have kiddie sized hands. Get the Missus in there :evil:
Get all new gear - dont try and skimp on this one - you dont want to do twice.
Hopefully you have a centrestand at the very least.

The old Honda's had chain drive starters and when thy slopped the rotor would rock back and forth with it. I've replaced the chain, end of problem. I always hated primary chains. God I love my Z1.
Steve