How a starter clutch works in a motorcycle engine

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In this video I explain how the starter clutch interacts with the starter motor and the rotor on the end of the crank shaft to get the engine cranking over and start it up. I also remove the rotor and starter clutch from a motorcycle engine so you can take a look at how it works.

[@stephenprideaux8122]

Thanks , I am just about to start on my Honda cx650. Starter clutch , a very clear and detailed video , Regards , Steve .

[@Muziek15]

Great video, I am 76 years old, and learned a lot from you. Thank you

[@user-rd7kd5ms9s]

Thank you for your video. I now know how a starter clutch works. Since the starter clutch was thrashed on a 65 Honda CB77 I am rebuilding I wanted to understand the how and why of its operation.

[@jerrybootneck1736]

My granddaughter was having trouble with her starter on her scooter it would spin but not catch the gear all the time and I've just stripped it down and thanks to your video, I found it only has 2 of those little springs and one missing. Thank you for a stripped down view.

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

Glad it helped 👍

[@JohnPortMelb]

Thanks for a detailed explanation of starter clutch.

[@coolhodgepodge5778]

Thank you TMM for your explanation of how a starter clutch works. It is EXACTLY how I want it explained to me because it fits how I think. I am subscribing. Please the content coming.

[@reneerussell7823]

Thanks I was looking for a channel that would actually show the engine parts working.

[@Stuart_Cox]

Effing brilliant summary mate so now to see if I can get those rollers back in place without taking the engine apart to do a rebuild.

[@mupcountry7153]

Love your explainations! Keep the videos coming bro

[@suitanddie8024]

Very informational. Answered my questions

[@frankolympus]

Definitely some real engaging information..... that universal tool for the fly wheel removal.. loving it 👍 👍

[@MrHookah01]

I finally understand! Awesome explanation thank you 🙏🙏🙏

[@stixaeon7696]

Thanks for lessons!

[@Anthony9592]

Thanks Brother. Very helpful..

[@leeanderson918]

Fantastic video

[@rayz2318]

Very detailed explanation. 👍👍

[@angelsera]

great video...thanks for sharing...

[@alansmilealot]

You just blew my mind. I have a nighthawk 750 and had to frankenstein a starter using the original starter and one I bought off ebay. The ebay one didn't mount, so I gutted it out of desperation to build another one. I'm thinking the starter I build is rotating the wrong direction. I can hear the starter spin but the engine is not turning over. Thanks alot pal, you gave me something to work from

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

That sounds more like the starter clutch is not engaging the crankshaft to turn the engine over. Rollers in starter clutch wear with time. I'm not sure the starter motor would rotate the wrong way. That would be unusual but maybe its a possibility if current is flowing through starter motor in the opposite direction where it was wired up incorrectly. I'm not 100 percent sure how you could end up with a starter rotating the wrong way.

[@jordanhale3708]

Mine is doing the same thing, rotating the wrong direction

[@_manish519]

Great video ♥️👏

[@maurotalamantes8288]

Good video!!

[@leyterislainas7050]

Hello excellent video and explanation…I want to ask you, I discovered on my motorcycle the end of the crankshaft is scratched where the main gear of the starter and the starting clutch press...the starter works normally but the motorcycle rarely starts with it..what do you think? model is honda astrea

[@spinstressandfelonmatthews6150]

Thanks

[@lukeschultz4145]

good video, it's better at 1.5 playback speed

[@bt9302]

Thanks!

[@TheBigCactus10]

For motorcycle with electric start and kickstart, how starter clutch disengages electric starting system when being kick-started? Both are engaged with crankshaft at start

[@eduardodaquiljr9637]

dear if we use 11 teeth gear pinion and the driven gear is 60 teeth,wouild it fir if we changed 11 teeth to 9 teeth since i do not see driven gear with teeth other than 60teeth?

[@ionut-stefandinu9302]

Thank you!!! You've made everything so clear and easy to understand! Exactly what I was looking for! Could you help me with some more information? What happens if the Starter Clutch is moved manually?... Before the winter, out of curiosity, I tried to rotate the bolt of the Starter Clutch, in both directions. It was hard, but I "succeeded". The wheel inside rotated with it. I haven't ridden the motorcycle since then. Now, after the winter, I am worried that I might have broken something, because, when I try to start the motorcycle, the Starter Motor will not rotate... (the Starter Relay and the Battery seem to be fine...) I read in the manual that a manual rotation to check the gears can be done, but I am still worried, since I had to force it to rotate (Suzuki GSX 600F 1997).

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

If starter motor won't rotate then check the battery first of all. It's most likely dead if it was sitting for months. If battery isn't generating enough current (crank amps) then it won't be able to power the starter output to rotate the engine

[@ionut-stefandinu9302]

@@TheMotorcycleMuse Thank you so much for the reply! I bought a new battery and still the same. But, this time, it tried to rotate for a second, after which it died completely. I will check the wires and the motor itself. Thank you a lot!

[@manases94]

Are all of them designed to turn the same direction?

[@dimitrisblane6368]

thank you. So clear description. Newbie question. What is the point of the rotor?

[@rivetc78]

It is actually the flywheel. It is essentially a large magnet that spins around the fixed stator coils and generates electricity

[@jewelshauvlog100]

Awesome

[@wirehairs]

Great video. I'm just wondering: if the starter clutch refuses to disengage after the bike is started, what can you do to try and get it to 'let go'? I had a starter relay close, so it cranked until the battery was dead, and this seems to have resulted in this problem.

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

Well the starter motor will only spin the starter clutch at about 1,000 rpm let's say. So after the engine starts the crank shaft should rotate faster and so disengage from the starter clutch. I never heard of it sticking but if it does stick then it's going to slow the engine down. If it did stick then I'd take it off and inspect it for wear or damage and possibly replace it

[@frankolympus]

That sounds like a very rare occurrence. Seems as if you got a busted spring and barrel in your starter clutch, easy replacement and you should be riding in no time.

[@qaisarawan93]

Nice videos. There is a place for bolt just above the dowel on the front of engine adjacent to the self sprocket. What is that for?

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

Engine mounting bolt hole I think you refer to. That's the hole you can see through. There is 3 of them on the outside of the engine casing.

[@qaisarawan93]

@@TheMotorcycleMuse thanks for the prompt response. I am talking about the bolt hole inside magnet side. Just below the Studd @10:37 . It's seems it could be holding some stopper or thing to keep the big gear from mis alignments? Also how much is the in/out free play in the bigger gear behind magnet? I noted mine can move in and out by about 2 to 3 mm..

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

@@qaisarawan93 Inside the magnet in the rotor there is three zinc plated bolts (yellowy colour) and one large bolt in the middle securing the rotor to the crankshaft. No other holes in the rotor. There is some round patterns that look like holes but they're just there from the manufacturing process. There shouldn't be any free play. If there is then most likely centre bolt isn't torqued on properly to secure rotor.

[@qaisarawan93]

@@TheMotorcycleMuse no I am not taking of that. I have two questions. On the crankcase the area that's covered by magnet cover there us a place just beneath the lower Studd towers you that seems to have a bolt place. This is not for the fastening the cover its inside crankcase. What is it for? Secondly the bigger gear/sprocket one side of which goes inside the magnet seal in crankcase and other side inside then magneto back which holds the one way clutch mechanism. My question is is there in/out play in the bigger sprocket on the crankshaft. I noted if I push the bigger gear in/out there is some free play as the bigger wheel is not attached via bolts etc to anything its freely floating on crankshaft and outer movement is limited but the magneto. Inner by the thick portion of crankshaft. So my question is there may play there?

[@qaisarawan93]

@@TheMotorcycleMuse the hole is in crankcase not in rotor. Please see that. The roter bolt is properly torqued and rotor is fixed properly. I m taking if any in out free play in the bigger gear behind the magnet.

[@amidranjo4446]

hyy I have question about starter clutch driven gear. Does it need to have play between engine block and clutch driven gear or clutch driven gear and rotor. my has bit of play in between of rotor and engine block , ih has movment. i hope you uderstand question. i have some problems whit my bike if you are willing to help me let me know. thanks

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

Has there should be about a millimetre space between starter motor driven gear and engine block. They shouldn't be rubbing off each other. Similarly the driven gear shouldn't be touching off the rotor otherwise you get wear due to metal friction. Driven gear should be in contact with crank shaft only. Should be able to rotate on crank shaft but shouldn't be moving along crank shaft otherwise the teeth on the gear will not mesh with teeth on gears from starter motor

[@amidranjo4446]

​@@TheMotorcycleMuse can you send me your instagram, facebook, or email so I can send you a video of what is going on with my engine. I can`t find answer to my problem i would be very thankful

[@daveyt4802]

Just wondering how to start a drag racing MC after removing the starter and clutch.

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

Push start it. I've done it before on a motorcycle

[@jameshumphrey4466]

My problem, the starter motor is good but, will not turn. My first thoughts were that the starter relay was bad and then that the starter was bad. Replaced them both and then found that the starter is good but, the starter will not turn the reduction gears which leads to the starter clutch being locked. What would cause this? My guess is that somehow the clutch rollers have suddenly somehow locked everything. Have you had this problem? My cycle is a 2008 Kawasaki 900D Vulcan. Thank You. Jim

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

There is a possibility that the engine is seized by the sounds of it or something else is possibly after sticking in reduction gears to cause them to seize like a piece of metal. I'd recommend a professional mechanic look at it to be sure. They'll trouble shoot it in a few minutes

[@ericakrenz6722]

Where is the needle bearing located and what is its purpose? Could the starter clutch fire without this bearing?

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

I can't remember seeing a needle bearing around the starter clutch. I don't think it really needs one. It's lubricated by oil instead

[@MrCwatson3]

My bike the starter is just spinning. Cbr300r. It sounds like the starter clutch was damaged or the teeth on the starter got messed up? Or something happened. Idk

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

The rollers in the stater clutch are probably worn and need replacing

[@danielmusau7406]

my starter rollers keeps on wearing out even after replacing

[@herronbill]

If the sprag clutch fails can you take it out and still ride your motorbike

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

I'm afraid i dont know. Might have to check with a local mechanic shop

[@KMK_FAN_FOR_LIFE]

if you have a kickstart maybe

[@leeanderson918]

My starter is turning and the starter cluch seems to be slipping or not working.. Seems to be the same engine as yours,

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

You might need me springs and rollers if that's the case. Hopefully that's all it is 👍