82 GS650 starter will not engage

[jtmccoy15]

I recently purchased this bike and have hopefully found all of my grounds after the main fuse kept blowing.

Now the bike seems to be electrically sound and multimeter reads good everywhere, but my starter spins but doesn't engage. I plan to play around with the starter itself next time I get a chance to work on it, but wanted a little direction since I'm not used to working on these older bikes.

Thanks in advance and I loved the GS the 4 hours I have ridden it..haha. Can't wait to get it going!!

[Nessism]

Could be starter clutch. You will have to pull the stator cover off to check it.

Get a service manual from cliff's site and check it out. http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

[Redman]

I recently purchased this bike and have hopefully found all of my grounds after the main fuse kept blowing.

Now the bike seems to be electrically sound and multimeter reads good everywhere, but my starter spins but doesn't engage. I plan to play around with the starter itself next time I get a chance to work on it, but wanted a little direction since I'm not used to working on these older bikes.

Thanks in advance and I loved the GS the 4 hours I have ridden it..haha. Can't wait to get it going!!

JT,

Welcome to GSR.

Where in general are you located?
(add location to user profile, will then show up in every post)

Assuming battery voltage is good, the starter spinning but not engaging will be related to a mechanical problem with the starter clutch, not the starter itself. Stgarter clutch is in-behind the stator cover on left side of engine. (not under starter cover).

WHen you say the starter is spinning, I assume you mean you hear the whirring, not just the click.

I had 82 650G for 20+ years since new. Never had to do much to it. I sometimes wonder where it went.

Is your 650 a 650G (standard shaft) or 650GL (cruiser shaft) or 650E (standard chain drive)..?
Starters and starter clutches all the same. but just asking.

Pictures of your 650 would be nice.

Dave

.

[Redman]

[jtmccoy15]

I would have never thought the starter clutch would have been there so I'm glad I asked. great help so far!!

Its the 650GL. I'll try to get some pics after I get it all put back together. Its rough, but its a nice winter project.

[tom203]

When you get stator cover off,before attacking starter clutch, make sure starter motor is spinning right direction - staring at it, starter motor should spin CCW .
The starter motor on 650 shafties has different rear mount than chain drive version.

[Redman]

........... make sure starter motor is spinning right direction - ......................

Starter motor going in reverse direction would occure only if someone put in the wrong starter motor.

Isnt any way to wire starter motor backwards, other than if battery installed/wired backwards (which also frys some of the electronics here and there).


JT,
Did it ever work when you had it, or has this been a problem ever since you got it?



Usuall problem with starter clutch is related to that spring and roller. THat roller needs to move freely, and spring push it back. If it gets stuck and spring doesnt push it back, then clutch not engage next time.


In other words: is probably a mechanical problem, not an electrcail problem.

.

[tom203]

That would occure only if someone put in the wrong starter motor.

Or rebuilt it wrong! these critters are happy to run either direction