Starter grinding noises

Occasionally my starter clutch has been making those horrible grinding sounds/slipping mentioned in the big information thread, and I am really not sure why because it very rarely happens. It usually (still very rarely) happens after the bike has been sitting not running for a while, and most of the time turning the key off, waiting a second, then flipping it back on and trying it again fixes it and it starts up just fine. Could this have something to do with the oil? I am already running standard 20W50 as it recommends in that information post about the starter issues. Really confused and hoping I do not have to split my engine case!

 

Forgot to mention, the oil I am running is Valvoline 20W50 4 stroke motorcycle oil, and I do not believe it is synthetic (does not say synthetic anywhere) it does say it is specifically made for wet clutches

 

does it sound like a can of rocks?

 

It sounds pretty nasty, I'm fairly sure its the same thing mentioned in the info thread. What I can't figure out is, if something is actually wrong with the starter clutch wouldn't it happen every time I tried to start it?

 

suggestion someone posted in another thread about starter clutch noise
Non synthetic should be good, synthetic is fine to as long as it meets JASO MA requirements.

I'd test the battery first, if that is good you'll have to look into it further. Removing the starter motor and spraying what you can of the starter clutch area and/or running sea foam in the crankcase for a hundred miles or so would be the next step.

 

20w50 is a bit thick unless outside temperature is over 80 all the time.
That can of rocks is caused by the inner surface having a wavy texture and the rollers skip across the top and don't grab all the time. Eventually it can fracture the outer case.

 

I'd drop the oil viscosity a bit (15w-40), and replace the starter brushes if that hasn't been done. Since it's only happening when cold, and only occasionally, that points to the starter not spinning the starter clutch fast enough for full engagement.

 

Definitely agree with K-moe on the 15W-40, and XJ on testing the battery. If you have it on a tender, unplug it and check it with a voltmeter in an hour. Also, test the voltage during a start. It shouldn't drop below 9.5V

 

My Seca 750 is doing this it is the starter clutch . Mine only does it when engine hot. Eventually I will have to tear it down and replace, to do this engine has to come out and bottom of engine case split. Chain guide and springs and rollers in clutch replaced . Not looking forward to it but my bike still starts just evey once in awhile it does this. I switched to Castrol 20w50 motorcycle oil it is better.

 

Alright, so the grinding is probably not the starter clutch failure that the info thread mentions? And thinner oil/new starter brushes should fix it and I'll be okay without having to take the starter clutch apart?

 

I also was going to do another oil change, even though I did one about 1100 miles ago anyway. Got the 20W50 and changed it as soon as I bought the bike, but didn't do the filter then, now I have a fresh filter so I'll buy some 15W-40 and change it/install the new filter once I get paid Thursday

 

Likely. It is still possible that the starter clutch is on its way out, but do the easy things first.

 

One of my 750r's was doing this, and the culprit was simply the starter. swapped it out, problem gone. Your's may be that simple, it could be the brushes are worn, or it could mean that you need an engine tear down.......so , work your way through the suggestions. Hopefully you don't need to open up the engine.

 

Now that you mention it the bushing in starter case can get a little sloppy and starter is making the noise not the starter clutch

 

That would be awesome if I only have to replace parts or the starter motor, really do not want to split engine cases if possible!

 

I keep a spare starter or 2 just because they are so easy to change and rebuild it for later.
This was Paul's starter. He admitted that he held the button down for about 5 min trying to start the bike. I'd did still work from time to time if you whacked it with a plastic hammer