1982 KZ1000 Starter/Starter Clutch Noise?

Hi all. My 82 KZ1000 is hard to starter after a few weeks of sitting, but it will start eventually. However the noise the starter or starter clutch (or something else?) is driving me nuts. Video attached.

I has a reputable starter company test it and told me the starter was good. So I replaced the rollers and springs in the starter clutch, but the same noise is there. Any ideas/suggestions? I may take the starter apart and clean the innards.

Thanks for your help.

Mike

No need to tear your starter motor apart,  sounds to me like a backlash issue between the starter motor and idler gear. Inspect the teeth,  you may be able to improve it with some oilstone work. The way it turns over it almost sounds like there is low compression on a cylinder or two?

Mike

Thanks Mike. I'll get it apart and check the teeth. If the compression was low, wouldn't I feel a significant loss of power (I don't)?

OK, I opened it up again, and I have a feeling the pin that holds the idler gear in place wasn't fully seated. I made sure the gears were meshing and they seemed OK, but I may swap out the one that's in there with one I have laying around because the sound is still there, but it seems better.