I Need YOUR Help! $500 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 Project Part 3: Slippery Starter

[@rcash3625]

hey man having a joy watching these I just bought my first bike and its a vulcan these videos help a lot

[@2wheelin]

Glad to hear it, thanks!

[@tompollack136]

Probably a weak battery man the battery on our bike sucks, check the wires for continuity as well as checking for good ground, weak starter is almost always electrical.

[@scottgaremko9870]

I have a 07 also I think it is just weak battery than a starter problem.

[@anubis1100]

the starter clutch rollers probably have flat spots on them. quite common on that style of starter mechanism.

[@axelurgiles2909]

From the research Ive done the starter clutch is only suppose to spin counterclockwise. If it spins clockwise then there’s a problem with the starter clutch. You can check it by hand. Also the flywheel bolt is a left hand thread so be careful. I learned the hard way

[@2wheelin]

All great advice! I was able to get mine working by cleaning, and lightly sanding the rollers. I did have replacement springs but they didn't seem to fix it. The light sanding did the trick. Good luck with your bike, man! Sounds very similar to where I'm at haha.

[@alexA-vb8vh]

@@2wheelin I'm fixing a vulcan 500 even older than 93 It happens exactly the same as you How did you sand the starter clutch rollers? a fine sandpaper p300 or p500? or something more gross p100 or p150 to facilitate the grip? thanks for uploading these videos they are fun and they help me too I upload videos to youtube (Sorry for my English, I'm from Spain and I use the google translator)

[@2wheelin]

@@alexA-vb8vh start with fine grit and only go down if necessary. I believe I used 250 or 400 grit and it worked fine.

[@chrishoski2]

I just got one and I'm wondering if you have any more updates on the project or if you even still have your bike?

[@2wheelin]

I do not unfortunately. Found some serious damage to the top end and ditched the project

[@electricpiercing114]

Get any further on this bike? Would love to see where its at now

[@2wheelin]

It's in someone else's hands. Top end was wrecked.

[@axelurgiles2909]

Have the same bike with the near same problem. In my case my starter wasnt working and I replaced it with ebay parts and had the same problems. Put the old starter back on and it started working again but the starter clutch isnt catching. Took the flyweel off and the roller pins to the ebay starter clutch were too big and pushed the metal out. Putting the old parts back in to see what the oem stuff can do.

[@boostedryan3052]

I have a 98 ninja 500r and the starter just spins fast when you hit the button. What do you think it is?

[@unokarpa4405]

в этом мотоцикле нет никакой проблемы со стартером, нет проблемы с цепью стартера, и нет проблемы с обгонной муфтой на генераторе, тут либо слабый аккумулятор, либо проблема с холостым ходом карбюратора - я не видел на видео вынимал ли ты иглы холостого хода чтобы почистить их, либо проблема с электрическими контактами, то что у тебя несколько раз получилось запустить двигатель мало характеризует состояние мотоцикла, очень жаль что ты не смог победить проблему и продал такой хороший мотоцикл когда был в пяти минутах от победы.

[@zach3270]

How is the biking doing now? Is there a part 4 inbound?

[@2wheelin]

This project had a grim end. I decided to sell it after I discovered the severe damage. The top end was wrecked and it needed a complete rebuild. I could've worked on it, but lack of time, money, or interest kept me away.

[@superwin190]

⁠@@2wheelinoh how did you find out top end was bad

[@unokarpa4405]

сливать масло для доступа к генератору нет необходимости, в этой модели мотоцикла генератор сухой, те несколько капель которые у тебя пролились при снятии крышки - это масло просочившееся через старый сальник под генератором.

[@leogeorgi1834]

A vot i nihujaaa. :D tam mnoga masla, tam cepj ot startera idet, na zvezdu kalinvala, sevodni takoi mator razbiral, i toze problema so startom, problema v sceplinija startera!

[@jadedparadise19]

I'm currently undergoing the same project with a 2003 vulcan 500. My starter spins and engages fine, but sounds like a screaming hyena while doing it. Does the starter need greasing inside somewhere or replacement bearings?

[@2wheelin]

Sounds like that may be a bad motor then? All they need is oil, no grease. My advice is remove the motor to see if it makes the sound with nothing attached. If that doesn't help, go and clean your starter clutch parts. I have a spare starter motor if you end up needing a cheap replacement.

[@jadedparadise19]

@@2wheelin thanks for the tips. I'll try it by itself away from the engine. I saw you tried the screw driver to hold the chain/sprocket/gear in place, do you think if you had tried something else, you'd be able to get the starter back in without taking the crankcase cover off? It'd be nice to avoid waiting on a gasket to come in... All these little parts that take 2 weeks to get in, really add up time-wise

[@trevorschnedler4472]

@@jadedparadise19 unfortunately I have no solution other than removing the engine covers. Trust me, I know the feeling when it comes to waiting for parts! Good luck with your bike. Sometimes the best thing to do is take a step back and think on it for a few days when you're stuck.

[@jerrypardue1678]

Have you tried getting a rebuild kit for your starter?

[@2wheelin]

I bought a used starter motor last week and it didn't fix the issue :( Waiting on a flywheel puller tool to arrive so I can remove and inspect the starter clutch.

[@rdtyler7579]

I’m having trouble removing my starter

[@amilsadikovic1788]

I just got a Vulcan 500 too kind of the same deal really beat up bike you got any websites that you recommend getting parts off of

[@2wheelin]

Rockymountainatvmc.com is my go to. If they don't carry it, eBay is my next stop.

[@amilsadikovic1788]

2 Wheelin hey saw your video about mountain biking in Colorado if your ever in the area again lmk I’d love to meet up go mountain biking or ride some motorcycles.

[@emeraldmiller1158]

I have a 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 that first started out grinding when I went to start it now it just clicks in the power goes out any thoughts?

[@2wheelin]

Sounds like you've got a dead battery

[@emeraldmiller1158]

I was only getting 10 volts ,

[@jerrypardue1678]

Where did you get your airbox boots from?

[@2wheelin]

Rockymountainatvmc.com

[@SandorFule]

My bastard EN500 made exacty this today. Of course when I needed it badly. I tried to start it from a car battery as well, but the starter motor is just spinning. I bet, this is a frewheel (clutch) problem. But I am too angry to repair it now. The bastard must rot a night in the garage. There is only 16.000 km in it. Shame on Kawasaki.