Starter Gear

[BowlingSS]

Anyone have any problems with this gear set? I bought one from xs650direct.com and it was worst than the old one. The starter would just spin. It would not in-gage with the crank. They have great service and sent me another one. I got the replacement in two days. Since my hand is still broke I have not tried the replacement. I might need a scale to check the spring.
Thanks guys.
Bill

 

[5twins]

Yes, check the spring, sometimes new ones are weak.

 

[RustiePyles]

I had the same problem with the Mikes XS gear. I swapped out the spring clutch from my OEM gear to the mikes gear. Had to tighten it a tad, worked much better after that.

 

[LTGTR]

The first one from Mikes had about 3 lb pull - I tried to sqaush the clip using the preffered method of putting a piece of 3mm flat bar in the U shape bit and compressing the clip in a vice - I could not get more that about 4 lb. I tried every possible way to crunch that clip with no success and in the end I snapped it. GeoffXS (ausie Mikes) sent another one to me and it is the same, about 3 lb pull - I have no idea what I will do to increase the tension on this one. There are lots of people on this forum that say "just give the U shape bit a bit of a squeeze in a vice and you will end up with 8 lb - without being rude, I am starting to doubt that they do (do they actually measure it).
I had one the other day ( at the place I volunteer) - brand new - 3 lb pull - I suggested to the mechanic that we try to squeeze it a bit - he said dont bother, just fit it - I fitted it and its useless.
I wish somebody could show me how to acheive the 6lb (recommended) or someone invent a new clip.
Regards Ray.

 

[RustiePyles]

The first one from Mikes had about 3 lb pull - I tried to sqaush the clip using the preffered method of putting a piece of 3mm flat bar in the U shape bit and compressing the clip in a vice - I could not get more that about 4 lb. I tried every possible way to crunch that clip with no success and in the end I snapped it. GeoffXS (ausie Mikes) sent another one to me and it is the same, about 3 lb pull - I have no idea what I will do to increase the tension on this one. There are lots of people on this forum that say "just give the U shape bit a bit of a squeeze in a vice and you will end up with 8 lb - without being rude, I am starting to doubt that they do (do they actually measure it).
I had one the other day ( at the place I volunteer) - brand new - 3 lb pull - I suggested to the mechanic that we try to squeeze it a bit - he said dont bother, just fit it - I fitted it and its useless.
I wish somebody could show me how to acheive the 6lb (recommended) or someone invent a new clip.
Regards Ray.

I've roughed up the ID of the spring clutch a tad with some 80grit and got a bit more friction out of it. Other than that one I've never had one I couldn't tighten up. I think 8lbs is the recommended pull weight.

 

[grizld1]

According to the 1978 factory service manual, spec tension for the clip spring is 4.9 to 5.5 pounds, but right, we've found from experience that a bit more tension doesn't hurt a thing. I've corrected several clip springs using a fisherman's spring scale pulled at a right angle. Never stuck a piece of flat bar in the spring and never had a spring break.

 

[BowlingSS]

Anyone use a digital fish scale for this measurement?

 

[bosco659]

I tightened mine up by squeezing the spring clip in the vise without the 3mm spacer. Never got it to 8 lbs. iirc the best I could get was about 5lbs and with that tension / friction it works fine. The one I took out that was giving me issues has less than 3lbs. Used a digital (luggage) weigh scale on mine.