Starter started spinnin free ...

[RandyRex]

Any ideas, anyone? My first guess is all the crashing into gear dislodged a bearing? Haven't looked yet

[Brendan W]

Your starter motor is spinning but the motor is not turning over?
Could be that the starter clutch is not doing what it's supposed to do?

[RandyRex]

Your starter motor is spinning but the motor is not turning over?
Could be that the starter clutch is not doing what it's supposed to do?

Could be, it's still cooling down, haven't dug in yet

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Randy, tell us what bike you’re working on: year and model, please. It’s a good idea to add that info to a signature. Get there through settings at the top right of the page.

[Brendan W]

Is the motor dragging the starter when running?

[RandyRex]

Is the motor dragging the starter when running?

1979 GS850. It's a bike with jokes ... a hot ride, and it spun free. Sat in my driveway for 4 hrs, started without issue ... smh ..

[rphillips]

Doesn't sound good, got to be the starter clutch. I've seen the bolts get loose, I'd check before something bad happens. You can use the kick starter, but the innards of the starter clutch still has vibration & movement. Just my opinion.

[RandyRex]

Doesn't sound good, got to be the starter clutch. I've seen the bolts get loose, I'd check before something bad happens. You can use the kick starter, but the innards of the starter clutch still has vibration & movement. Just my opinion.

I didn't know it had a clutch, I pictured a ratchet type system. Thank you, I'll look at it.

[randog311]

I own an 83' GS1100ESD that I purchased New in April of 1983, yesterday (Aug, 11th 2020) I went for a half hour ride and noticed some unusual Intermittent Noise, upon leaving my destination the Starter Just Spins Freely, Push Started it (Noise now Gone) & rode it Home, Drained the Oil, Removed the Left Side Cover and found the the One Way Sprag Clutch had Failed (I'm assuming that the "Friction Pad Material" gone away. The Starter Clutch Part Number is: 12600-49865 - CLUTCH SET . I'm having difficulty locating one of these and finding that it may no longer be available (NLA). Has anyone tried to have the friction Pads reconditioned by possibly a company that makes or restores Automatic Transmission Friction Bands etc... Or does anyone have a line on a Motorcycle Salvage Yard that may have a Good Used Starter Clutch Available? I spoke to My Local Suzuki Dealer yesterday and was in formed that no Dealership nor Suzuki show as having Stock of this Part. Any Suggestions welcome.
Thanks in advance, F B Randy E. Mueller AKA randog311

[rphillips]

There are no pad material. The starter clutch works off 3 steel rollers & 3 springs that kind'f roll & lock against the a hub that is attached to the crankshaft. Try looking at the parts fische pictures.

[randog311]

Thank You, That's what I originally envisioned, The illustration on Partzilla made it look to me like there are 3 Friction pads the the Rollers apply Pressure too. I haven't yet removed the Rotor. I was hoping to just replace the complete assembly. You've given me hope that if I can't find the complete assembly New, that I may still be able to purchase the Springs and Rollers? A Used assembly still isn't out of the question either. Thanks again rphillips
BTW, Years ago I was a Member of this Site and apparently I was Purged due to lack of activity...
Later, randog311

[Carter Turk]

You'll need to purchase or borrow the rotor puller that threads onto rotor for removal and access to the starter clutch.

A $40 dollar item from Motion Pro or an Ebay seller.

I believe that bike has a big taper rotor as some earlier 1100 models have a smaller one, but don't trust my memory.

You can get some 12-9 8mm allen head bolts at most hardware stores.

Not sure what it's called, but the big gear behind the starter clutch has an area where the 3 rollers roll on, if that's all scuffed up (deep ridges),

probably a good idea to buy the whole starter clutch assembly at about $150-75ish.

A stator/rotor cover gasket might be a good idea to get too.

After 8 or so starter clutch failures on my end, I find slicing the gasket at 2 oclock NE of rubber grommet housing the 3 stator wires makes reassembly much easier.

[RandyRex]

Thanks, Randog, I found a rebuild set on E-Bay, haven't fiddled with it yet.

[RandyRex]

There are no pad material. The starter clutch works off 3 steel rollers & 3 springs that kind'f roll & lock against the a hub that is attached to the crankshaft. Try looking at the parts fische pictures.

Thanks, sir!

[Eli69]

I've seen a couple different problems with the starter clutch causing it to spin freely.

The bolt holding the starter clutch tightly to the beveled end of the crankshaft has loosened, or

the starter clutch housing has cracked causing the rollers to not tighten onto the crankshaft end.