Starter clutch miracle

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  • qisteve
    • Jan 2026

    #1

    Starter clutch miracle

    Even though this is not a Suzuki issue, others my find it useful:

    I recently purchased a 1979 Kawasaki 400 with 867 orig miles. Getting it started was very difficult due to fouled carbs. After much cranking the starter clutch began to slip. This became a real problem, slipping about 4 out of 5 tries. I was resigned to pulling the clutch apart, but I remembered the PO told me he has used "synthetic" oil. I thought it was worth changing the oil first, even though I knew I'd have to drain it again to do the starter clutch. Well, after replacing the synthetic with Rotella 15-40, the starter clutch began IMMEDIATELY working perfectly. This may be the cure for others' starting issues; it sure is worth trying!
  • Triam

    #2
    Good information. I wonder if it's a sign that the starter clutch is about to go out completely and you should replace it nonetheless.

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    • Rob S.
      Forum Guru
      Past Site Supporter
      • Dec 2013
      • 9385
      • New York City

      #3
      It's a miracle! Man up and vanished like a fart in the wind!

      Another reason not to use synthetic?
      1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

      2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

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      • Grimly
        Forum Guru
        Past Site Supporter
        Super Site Supporter
        • Sep 2012
        • 5761
        • Ireland

        #4
        Originally posted by Triam
        Good information. I wonder if it's a sign that the starter clutch is about to go out completely and you should replace it nonetheless.
        This, I would suspect to be true.
        Dave
        '79 GS850GN '80 GS850GT
        Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window

        Comment

        • qisteve

          #5
          I'll let everyone know if and when it acts up again. So far, so good.

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