starter problems 1983 kz750

Hey guys, I'm new to this site and motorcycles, So I have an old 1983 kz750 k1(belt) I believe, and it's been sitting in my garage for the past year and in the 2 last weeks I've been trying to restore it to working condition, I'm using the haynes book and so far I've:
-gotten a new battery
-replaced bad spark plugs with new ones
-drained gas tank and put fresh gas in
-check sparks
-check fuel
-replace old oil
-checked air filter

and remember I'm still new to bikes so I'm still bad at explaining things, but It seems I have a bad starter, when i try to start it, the starter spins fast and makes rattling noises and screeches to a stop. My question is, how do I change the starter and am I correct about what's wrong? Any ideas? Thanks for reading

sounds like starter clutch i believe they call it,pull dyno cover off left side of motor and see if the gear engages when you bump starter.
pull plug wires off while you do this so it doesnt start

sorry, I'm still new at all of this, the dyno cover is the engine cover? so I have to take out the engine?

nope,left side front of motor.
big round bulge looking thing stickin out of motor

okay i got it, I took off the dyno cover and I took off the starter cover and bumped the starter and i just see the starter spin but not the engine turn

If the engine had turned over you would have had to clean up the mess caused by the oil being pumped out :laugh:

Here is what you need:




And here is where you get it:

Z1 Enterprises

Best service I've found, and the prices are pretty good also.


Whoops! You probably don't know what that is :blush:

Starter Clutch rebuild kit, buy one and if you have any questions just ask, most 750 twin owners here have worked on their starter clutch, some take them off and throw them away :laugh:



You'd have more luck posting at THE KAWASAKI TWIN OWNERS FORUM seems like most of the twin owners are there.

out of curiosity, what was suppose to happen? When i was checking?

oh and thank you very much

You were checking to see if the chain was turning and if the starter clutch was grabbing.

The bolt that holds the flywheel on is a left hand thread, don't forget that.

I use the rear axle to remove the flywheel on my bike, but while the motor is a 82 the axle is a 79, and I don't know if your axle will work. Remove the small bolt (left hand thread) and screw in the axle (larger and right hand thread), then give it a big solid whack with a good sized hammer, like you're attempting to drive the flywheel further on the crank. And it should pop right off.

You have to remove the starter first.

Once you get the flywheel off you'll see the starter clutch mounted on the back of it, and a close look will make everything clear.


Kind of disjointed post and I apologize, but I am in a hurry to get other things done.

Thanks guys, I've just ordered the part, should be here by the end of the week, but in the mean time, I have another question, the other day I decided to put my bike into first gear and try starting it, so I held in my clutch and bike started moving(moved me about 4 feet,but the engine didn't crank). My question is, is my clutch not engaging? With the clutch held down, shouldn't the bike not move. Thanks again guys.

Clutch plates often "stick" together when a cold engine is started, regardless of squeezing the handlebar clutch lever.

Typical scene is starting cold engine in neutral, followed by "clunk" into low gear as the clutch plates separate. Followed by normal shifting while engine remains warm.

Btw, "engaged" means the clutch plates are being pressed together, and "disengaged" means the clutch plates are separated (usually from squeezing the handlebar clutch lever). See image below.

Good Fortune!

sweet, it makes sense now, thanks