starter clutch

prima5star · Post by **prima5star** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:55 pm

I think I went on about this a year ago but I can't find my post so...

My new acquisition CB77 has a slippety starter clutch, I pulled it apart but it all looks great! I took the big starter gear off and the stator off and by hand I can't make it slip, I know- I have a lot less torque than the starter motor but the thing didn't even try to grab when I hit the button.

What do you all think? Sticky springs, oval cylinders, too much grease, the ghost of Elvis?

I guess I'll take it all apart and lose a few pieces and complain about it tomorrow unless any of you has a better idea.

Thanks!

joeweir1 · Post by **joeweir1** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:42 am

What condition is the part on the grear the rollers engage?I have one of those here that has wear marks on it, but not sure if that would cause a problem if you engage it by hand.I know on a cold day mine would not engage this past spring.Oil on springs was also a problem.Also,the springs could be weak after 40 yrs.I stretched mine alittle to give alittle more life to them.Also, you sure it is not the starter gears that are not stripped?Did you watch the starter gear with the cover off of the end of it?Just thought I'd throw that out there.

prima5star · Post by **prima5star** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:00 pm

funny, but the last one I repaired looked much worse than this one. The last one had one of the three mounting screws sheared off, the sheetmetal retaining piece was all worn through and one of the springs was broken. This one looks better than what I put back in after an amateur repair that last time.

I engaged the starter with all the 'guts' off that side of the motor and it spun urgently and freely. The gear that the clutch engages is smooth and well lubed. I think I will order some new springs and possibly rollers from McMaster if they have an appropriate size and clean and lube everything.

prima5star · Post by **prima5star** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:44 pm

So I took the starter clutch apart this afternoon, goodtimes! The thing is well worn but complete and in servicable appearing condition except there is one good spring and two springs straight out of clickclick clickclick style ball point pens! Several orders of magnitude to low a K for the application. I'll see if Olander (local, on the spot gratification) has the right size springs tomorrow, if not I'll order some from McMaster, Century or Smalley. That'll fix 'er.

There you have it!