jjrock5
XS650 Member
Hi guys I have two problems with my starting system.
1. The electric starter is not engaging properly to allow the engine to continue rotating as it tries to start. The times that the starter engages, the engine rotates but then gets disengaged quickly after and you can hear the starter gear just spinning freely in the engine case.
This has a new MikesXS starter gear and clip. I compressed the spring “tang” in a vice to try to get as much rotational force/drag as I could but I could only achieve 5-6 lbs on it. Maybe the aftermarket spring is to blame but previous OEM spring had the same symptoms and the OEM gear teeth were very worn. Bike has 21,000 miles. Video below:
2. The kick starter moves freely but it is not rotating the engine. I am almost positive I installed the mechanism back correctly. In the past I’ve installed it incorrectly with the metal tab in the lever assembly clocked wrong and I know the lever would not rotate at all since it was jammed. This time the lever seemed to engage the gear inside the engine case properly. I put it all together, I pushed down on the lever and it moves freely (slight drag) but it’s not rotating the engine. I can even rotate the arm with my hands. I pulled the spark plugs out and when I rotate the kick start lever, I do not see the pistons move up and down. The clutch is adjusted properly. Video below:
The photos below show how much the lever is sticking out past the engine cover. Could it be it’s sticking out too much therefore not installed correctly?
Thanks for any help!
1. The electric starter is not engaging properly to allow the engine to continue rotating as it tries to start. The times that the starter engages, the engine rotates but then gets disengaged quickly after and you can hear the starter gear just spinning freely in the engine case.
This has a new MikesXS starter gear and clip. I compressed the spring “tang” in a vice to try to get as much rotational force/drag as I could but I could only achieve 5-6 lbs on it. Maybe the aftermarket spring is to blame but previous OEM spring had the same symptoms and the OEM gear teeth were very worn. Bike has 21,000 miles. Video below:
2. The kick starter moves freely but it is not rotating the engine. I am almost positive I installed the mechanism back correctly. In the past I’ve installed it incorrectly with the metal tab in the lever assembly clocked wrong and I know the lever would not rotate at all since it was jammed. This time the lever seemed to engage the gear inside the engine case properly. I put it all together, I pushed down on the lever and it moves freely (slight drag) but it’s not rotating the engine. I can even rotate the arm with my hands. I pulled the spark plugs out and when I rotate the kick start lever, I do not see the pistons move up and down. The clutch is adjusted properly. Video below:
The photos below show how much the lever is sticking out past the engine cover. Could it be it’s sticking out too much therefore not installed correctly?
Thanks for any help!