Possible starter clutch problem? 1978 KZ750B

I put a new battery in my '78 KZ750 and it turns the engine over. However, it sounds awful like a kind of whiny grinding noise and kind of sluggish too. Today, I stalled the bike a few times (I am a new rider), and the electric starter just would not turn the engine. It was really sluggish sounding. I ended up just using the kick start. I am wondering if this is the starter clutch, or a problem somewhere else in the bike.
I want to fix this issue without throwing a whole lot of parts at my bike if they are not the problem. Where is this starter located on the bike, and is there a good way to check it?

Whining and grinding does sound like a startr clutch problem. A slow crank/tired crank is either battery or starter motor.

Starter clutch fail is common on the 750 twin. It's under the flywheel, left side of engine. Not too bad to change.

It looks like you have a similar model bike. Have you ever replaced your starter clutch before? I want to buy one online that won't be a lemon.

Some threads of interest --

www.kzrider.com/forum/4-electrical/59276...-not-engaging#622547

www.kzrider.com/forum/2-engine/592156-starter-clutch-mod#616289

www.kzrider.com/forum/4-electrical/59186...avier-springs#613251

www.kzrider.com/forum/4-electrical/58948...clutch-issues#593481

www.kzrider.com/forum/4-electrical/58891...when-starting#589022

www.kzrider.com/forum/4-electrical/57720...otor?start=40#584871

These are threads where KZr member Topper is a participant.

Additional threads may be located by doing a forum search on key words starter clutch without a name or category and in whatever time frame desired.

Good Fortune!

pazzadelivery wrote: It looks like you have a similar model bike. Have you ever replaced your starter clutch before? I want to buy one online that won't be a lemon.

I took mine off and inspected it, assuming it might be bad...... so I had purchased a good used one offline to have parts if needed. Didn't need the new one, so I sold it to somebody.

There are a lot of bike dismantlers online who sell decent parts. I think I paid $80 for the used one with all parts, chain, gears and everything.

some salvage places:

www.usedautopartsdealers.com/state/illin...ne_cycle_salvage.php

www.ranchomotorcycle.com/

www.ricepaddy.com/

www.tricountymotorcycles.com/