slipping starter clutch (applies to all models)

One of the constant queries that comes up time after time on the various GoldWing Forums is the question of the starter clutch intermittent operation or failure.

The symptoms range from an occasional non-engagement to a complete failure to turn the engine over at all, accompanied by the frantic whirring of the starter motor!

The clutch itself, built into the generator rotor, consists of three rollers which, at rest, are pushed down by spring loaded guide pins onto a finish-ground journal which is part of the driven starter sprocket. Due to the angle that the guide pins sit at, this locks the rotor to the driven sprocket until the engine starts, which resulting in the rotor turning faster than the sprocket and thus releasing the locking effect.

The problems are caused by the positioning of the starter clutch high up in the engine, buried inside the back of the alternator rotor. Next to no lubrication can get to it as there is no direct feed of oil, only what gets splashed up; and due to it's position it is a prime target for the acidic condensate when the engine cools. The resulting rust and deposited gunge makes the guide pins stick so that the rollers are unable to contact the sprocket with sufficient force to drive the rotor shaft (and thence the crankshaft) or sometimes the rollers stick and stop rotating, causing a flat to be worn down in one spot.

The driven sprocket can also have the needle roller bearing and oilways totally choked up and the surface the clutch rollers act on gets rusty.

Sometimes an oil change with some ATF in the oil will free it off, for a while at least, but the proper answer is to strip it down and fix it properly.
Having to push start or bump start a fully laden Aspencade or Interstate is not funny!
(Those of you with an early GL1000 with a kickstart can stop laughing now.)

Unfortunately this is an 'engine out' job. There is no way to get the rear casing off with it in the frame. So may I suggest that while you are into the rear of the engine, you should check the clutch plates for wear, and both the starter and oil pump chains.

I will assume that you have manual to help you remove the engine.

OK, now the engine is out and the rear clutch cover and rear engine casings are removed. You will find there is are holes in the outer diameter of the rotor. Insert a bar or drift to hold the rotor from turning and undo the double headed bolt holding it to the shaft. The rotor should then pull off the shaft but it may be extremely tight on its splines and require a puller to get it off.

With the rotor removed, the driven sprocket is exposed. It comes off along with the starter chain and starter sprocket. Wash the needle roller bearing out and clear the oil holes. If the bearing is rough it should be changed (the circlips holding it in are a PITA to get out! I opened up a small groove with the Dremel so that it could be levered out. I greased the bearing with moly grease before putting it back but I don't know how long the grease would stay there). The OEM bearing is totally unobtainable, but it can be replaced by two K28 x 33 x 13 bearings which are available off the shelf.
Clean and polish the sprocket roller driving surface.

Now turn your attention to the back of the rotor. Inside the back you will see three rollers and three guide pins with springs inside them. Remove and wash them, then check the rollers for flats. If no flats, they can be re-used but to be honest, since the repair kits are so cheap and since I would not want to have to do the job again, I will always replace the lot!

Clean out the shaped clutch housing (if you wish to remove the three screws holding it in, be warned! They are very, very tight! Check what happened to one of mine in the top picture!), oil up all the parts and re-assemble them in the rotor.
The rollers have to be held back into their housing so that the rotor can be slid over the sprocket. There are three small holes in the sheet metal face clutch face plate which allow you to put in something to stop them falling down. This could be three pieces of welding wire with a small hook bent in the end, or with three small tie wraps with the ends bent. I found that three strips of plastic as per the picture worked best for me.

DO NOT GREASE THE SPLINES before mounting up the rotor. Use a little blue Loctite on the holding bolt and tighten it up to 58-69 ft/lbs -800/900 Kg/cm.

(if you have found that the rotor is slack on its splines, it may be a good idea to use some Bearing Fit to take this slack up. The rotor is very heavy and the constant reversal of load as the bike accelerates and brakes can take it's toll on the splines if the bolt hasn't been tightened to the correct torque previously).

If the starter chain seems very slack, renew it. There's no tensioner on it and It's not unknown for the chain to break.

So. That's the starter clutch done! Easy!

Now I'll leave you to get the main clutch checked out and put everything back together.

WinGovations Copyright 2010
J G Evans