starter clutch access

Is it necessary to pull the engine to get at the starter drum(sprag clutch) on a '77 KZ 650?
Thanks in advance.

It is a hole lot easier with the motor upside down then laying on your back with oil dripping in your eyes.If you have a service manual on the bike it will explain all the steps. It is kinda of a PITA but it isnt to bad.
You can have the engine off the chassis in about 1 hr.then remove the verious covers, clutch discs and basket,oil pan.Well you know the normal bs when getting into an engine. But beleive me if you dont have a manual get one it will save you some head scratching:dry: :blink:

It is possible to do this without removing the engine, through the bottom. It requires turning thebike upside down. We discussed this indetail before. See this thread:

kzrider.com/component/option,com_joomlab...id,2/id,21999/#21999

Good luck, and let us hear how you make out solving the problem.

Hey guys, I'm having startup problems on my '82 KZ750 Spectre (cold=spining starter, warm=starts right up). My Clymer manuel has almost nothing to say about the shaft drive, does anyone know if access to the starter clutch is any different with shaft drive as opposed to chain/belt drive? Or if it's even the starter clutch that's causing the problem? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cuss

cussword,

If you look on the kawasaki wesite, at the parts diagrams, the starter and starter clutch assemblies for the KZ750E [standard], the KZ750H [LTD], and the KZ750 [Spectre] are identical for the 1980-1984 years. I believe the starter clutches are the same as those used for the KZ650 bikes as well. Your bike is very much like the KZ750H [LTD], except you have a diferent color scheme, and shaft drive. Lots of the parts switch over wihtout any functional problems.

I so not know if your symptoms are consistent with a problem starter clutch, but there really isn't much else to cause trouble in the drive path between the starter motor output gear and the driveshaft itself. I would start by removing the starter to make sure there is not a problem there (worn output gear, or gear spinning on the starter shaft), then inspect the gear that the starter gear meshes with, then continue from there searching for the problem. What you cannot see through the starter opening you can only reach through the bottom of the sump.

Good luck, and make sure you tell us what you find.

Thanks for the info, I've had the starter off, all the visible gears look good and the gear is not spinning on the starter. Looks like i'm gonna have to dig in to the motor. I have a trip planned for next weekend, I'm a little warry about opening up the engine this weekend, I'm afraid of not being able to have it fixed in time. I guess I'll have to push start it for the trip. I'll let you know what happens when I have the opportunity. Thanks again for the insight on the shaft drive simmilarities.