82 GS1100E Starter/starter clutch problem?

[Guest]

Ill start by describing the situation. I ride it almost every day, keep it topped with oil. I drove to work in the morning, everything operational and nothing standing out of the norm. At the end of the day, i went to start it to head home and it sounded as if my starter was free spinning. i wrote it off as a bad starter, even though it had started perfectly the last two years with no signs of issue. after ridding down a hill and roll starting, while driving, it felt like something internal was catching and preparing to seize. like the bike wanted to lock up while riding but everything else felt normal. good power, no squeeking in between. it also varied with engine speed but wasnt happening with every rotation. it felt like debris may have been catching somewhere in its guts. i had the bike put on a trailer after riding a mile and taken back to my garage. Im wondering where i should start. This is not making me happy.

I do have the shop manual and i pulled the stator/starter cover and there wasnt any apparent debris. the started also spun fine when bench tested.

where should i go next?
Thank you

[bonanzadave]

i pulled the stator/starter cover and there wasnt any apparent debris.

I woulda bet a dollar that the crankshaft nut was loose. The big nut, under the stator cover, holding the starter clutch tight on the crank taper. Did you check that ?

[chef1366]

And sheered the starter clutch bolts. That's what makes it feel like it's going to lock up.