Hello! I had a problem with a starter motor so I replaced it with a new one, also the starter clutch assembly and I am sure they are correctly assembled.

The bike won`t start. The solenoid works but releases immediately, starter motor rotates, and the clutch seems to work, it releases the plates when lever is pulled, but does not rotate. On 5th gear I can rotate the motor by turning the back wheel so the pistons do work.

Can anyone help me with this, please! Could the problem be in the valves or something?

Quote from ernie8 on 07.09.10 at 19:00:15:


The starter and the st. clutch are both brand new. I changed the clutch to a Virago clutch and the idler gear to match the new st. clutch also. Now I did have a bad battery, so I tested it with an 8 amp battery from another bike, the solenoid clicked and then just the starter motor rotating. So I took another battery from my car, 200 amps, but then just the starter relay clicks and the solenoin doesn`t. Could it be possible that the TR needs exactly the 20 amp battery?

Quote from ernie8 on 08.09.10 at 18:30:48:


Thanks! Problem solved! The  planetary gear inside the starter motor indeed was slipping . Reassembled and tightened the starter motor, and checked all the wiring and now it works like a dream. I am very happy for your assistance, thank You! I`ve had the TR 15 years now and I have always had starter problems, so I changed the Starter clutch assy for the newer Virago model and also the next gear it contacts (as a set). The clutch dragging was because of the superbike motor oil I used and the heavy duty clutch springs. These all together made the mysterious symptoms. So, case closed, I am back on the road again, and thanks again!