• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

How bad is my starter clutch? 79GS1000L

  • Thread starter Thread starter tpalmer1359
  • Start date Start date
T

tpalmer1359

Guest
1979 GS1000L

Well I pulled the rotor off after reading a number of posts about loose starter clutch bolts and a rattling marble sound. Sure enough, all three bolts were loose allowing for play.

Please share your knowledge. Are the grooves and dimples in the starter clutch an issue requiring a new unit, or can I bolt this back together with new springs (all 3 are different lengths) and all should be good?

Also - the threads on the bolts appear to be worn high up. Notice the shiny portion versus the dark color of the full threads. Is that wear or the design of the bolts?

The starter clutch gear looks perfect.

Thanks very much.
 
Thanks, and I used the center bolt pusher you recommended.

I'm installing 3 new springs and 3 new bolts. The one shrunken spring no longer secured its roller, which was in the middle of the clutch & rotor rattling all over the place.

Can't wait to get this buttoned up and back on the road. I've adjusted valve clearances, gapped the points, checked the timing, inspected the clutch plates, tightened clutch hub springs, and installed new clutch pressure springs, in addition to repairing the starter clutch as soon as the parts arrive.

Any advice on getting rotor back on?
 
impact its bag off.
tighter the better.
no need to lock the wheel ect.... ect..
just let it hammer for 20-30 seconds depending on the power of the impact.
i use red locktite on the taper of the crankshaft also...thats just me.
maybe some blue locktite on the rotor bolt.
 
Well I fixed the starter clutch today as the springs just came in. Perfect. No more rattle. Thanks again for your help.

BUT, I screwed something else up. At first the bike was tight with no abnomal noise. Then top end valve clatter started and progressively got louder in short order. I shut down the bike a walked it home.

Sure enough I had left the manual cam chain tensioner loose. So I tightened that and secured it - valve clatter still there.

Any insights and thoughts? Maybe cam jumped a tooth?
 
Last edited:
Remove the cam cover, the points cover and check the cam timing and valve lash. after its all buttoned up, 'bar' the engine over to make sure you don't have any valve to piston issues. be sure and take a compression test before you fire it up to check for any bent valves.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top