1981 Kawasaki 750 LTD Starter Problem

stevec6535 · 06-19-2008

Hi. Im hoping that somebody out there can give me some advice. I got a 1981 Kawasaki 750 LTD 4 Cyl. form a guy how was going over to Iraq, so he did not want it any more. It was given to him and he never rode it. He was told that it ran but the starter was "BlownUp". When I got it home I noticed that there were a number of issues with melted wires, spliced wires ect. I hooked a 12v battery directly to the starter to see if it would even turn over and the starter just spun. I pulled the starter off of the bike and bench tested it and it appears to be working just fine,no stripped gears inside and the spur gear looks good also but when I put it back on the bike the starter dosen't seem to be engaging with the fly wheel. when I stick my finger inside the starter hole the fly wheel will spin freely in one direction and it locks up in the other. I am guessing that the fly wheel is mounted on a 1 way bearing. Has anybody ever seen od dealt with this before? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

JG6_oddball · 06-19-2008

when u bench tested it did it spin? or kick out and spin?

stevec6535 · 06-20-2008

It just spun but it did not kick out

stevec6535 · 06-20-2008

There is not a external starter solinoid on this starter. Is there one on the inside?

Andy the gringo · 06-20-2008

The solenoid for the bike is located under the left side cover. Follow the positive lead from the battery and you will find it.

JG6_oddball · 06-20-2008

LFU has a good explanation of what is most likely happening to your bike

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoudFastUgly

CLUTCH: a mechanism for readily engaging or disengaging a shaft that drives a mechanism or is driven by another part.

Modern auto starter motors are equipped with a "bendix," a gear and integral freewheel, or overrunning clutch, thereby allowing the flywheel to automatically disengage the pinion gear from the flywheel when the engine starts.

Kawasaki KZ550, GPz550 and ZX550 have a seperate starter motor and clutch assemblies. They are not one complete unit as an automotove starter.

It is well known that the CLUTCH in this starter SYSTEM fails, the starter motor will turn, but the engine does not crank. The GEARS mesh constantly (unlike an automotive starter), the CLUTCH seperates the starter motor from the crankshaft via the secondary shaft and the primary chain after startup.

S!

antiq · 06-21-2008

Sounds like the starter clutch has gone bad. It's inside the lower engine case.

06-19-2008	#1 (permalink)
stevec6535 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Corona Ca. Posts: 5	1981 Kawasaki 750 LTD Starter Problem Hi. Im hoping that somebody out there can give me some advice. I got a 1981 Kawasaki 750 LTD 4 Cyl. form a guy how was going over to Iraq, so he did not want it any more. It was given to him and he never rode it. He was told that it ran but the starter was "BlownUp". When I got it home I noticed that there were a number of issues with melted wires, spliced wires ect. I hooked a 12v battery directly to the starter to see if it would even turn over and the starter just spun. I pulled the starter off of the bike and bench tested it and it appears to be working just fine,no stripped gears inside and the spur gear looks good also but when I put it back on the bike the starter dosen't seem to be engaging with the fly wheel. when I stick my finger inside the starter hole the fly wheel will spin freely in one direction and it locks up in the other. I am guessing that the fly wheel is mounted on a 1 way bearing. Has anybody ever seen od dealt with this before? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

06-19-2008	#2 (permalink)
JG6_oddball Clutch Cadet BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago ,IL Posts: 380	when u bench tested it did it spin? or kick out and spin? __________________ 81,CB750K 78,GS550 8?,CX500 83,KZ750 81,KZ440 81,XV920 86,ZG1000 82 XJ1100 Maxim (current)

06-20-2008	#5 (permalink)
Andy the gringo KZ Addicted (needs Help) BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 492	The solenoid for the bike is located under the left side cover. Follow the positive lead from the battery and you will find it. __________________ 80 Z-1 Classic 84 GPZ1100 77&79 1000 LTD 76 KZ900 KZ750 X 2 KZ650 X 7 KZ550 X3 305 CSR

06-21-2008	#7 (permalink)
antiq Vintage bike addict BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: I live in eastern ohio Posts: 4,802	Sounds like the starter clutch has gone bad. It's inside the lower engine case. __________________ 82 KZ750LTD, 84 Virago 700, 85 Vulcan 700.78 KZ750 twin,82 KZ650, 77 KZ650, 75 CB200T,Vince

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
EX500 Electrical / Starter Problem	shipbldr2000	The Mechanics Corner	10	05-21-2009 08:30 PM
Kawasaki can make you sick.	Uncle Bob	Off Topic	24	01-15-2009 03:00 PM
Zx-6r 1995 starter problem	FinKawa	The Mechanics Corner	4	10-22-2007 01:50 AM
1981 Kawasaki 750 ltd baffels	twilli	Vintage Motorcyle Info	0	06-12-2006 10:53 AM
Yamaha & Kawasaki Billet Starter & Horn Buttons	Cycle-Parts	Accessory Swap Meet	0	04-25-2004 12:38 AM

06-20-2008	#3 (permalink)
stevec6535 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Corona Ca. Posts: 5	It just spun but it did not kick out

06-20-2008	#4 (permalink)
stevec6535 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Corona Ca. Posts: 5	There is not a external starter solinoid on this starter. Is there one on the inside?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)