Starter clutch noise question

[willie]

Will a bad starter clutch make the same racket every time when starting or not? Here's whats going on with my GK. Over the past couple of yrs, every now and then[/I] when starting the engine cold it'll make a racket during the 1st couple of revolutions, like a ballpeen hammer is striking the inside of the engine. I thought the sound was coming from under the left side cover but I'm not certain of that because its so brief. It never made the noise when the engine is warm and, again, its a very brief racket. Also, I can pull the plugs and spin the motor with the starter with no noise at all. I took it for granted that it was the starter clutch but now I'm beginning to wonder about that because......I noticed this week that, for the 1st time, gas had puddled under the bike. To me, that means the petcock is leaking. So, this afternoon, I pulled the plugs before trying to start the engine. Gas shot out of #1 cyl when I cranked it over. I then put the other 3 plugs in and tried starting it. It started without any racket at all. I reinstalled #1 plug and started it again. It started right up without the slightest racket.
My thoughts now are, maybe, I've had a slight petcock leak and the racket I've heard when cold has been a little bit of hydro locking.
So, thats why I'm asking if a bad starter clutch will make the same racket every time regardless of whether or not the engine is warm or cold.
THANKS AGAIN!! in advance.
Willie

[hampshirehog]

You've got a petcock leak plus leaky float valves (the latter to some degree - maybe a little, maybe a lot depending on how long it takes for your bike to flood).

A dodgy starter clutch makes a clack-clack-clack noise - nothing else sounds like it. Your symptoms sound as if this may be suspect as well.

[posplayr]

I would worry about avoiding hydolocking more than the starter clutch. A bent crank will ruin your day much more than a bad starter clutch. Fix or replace your petcock. After that start listening for starter clutch sounds.

Here is how my GS750 sounded when the starter clutch was going out.
This noise is from worn barrels and clutch hub which causes the clutch to slip. The only thing to do is replace the whole thing as even barrel replacement is only part of the wear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGaJnlA2uIE

I have also had some of the ball peen hammer sounds as well, but it is generally only happens when the battery voltage is low and the motor is turning over slow and the motor kicks back (when first firing and reverses direction) which the starter clutch doesn't like very much. A faster revolution of the motor normally stops that from happening.