Spare engine—good or bad

bought a parts bike a couple of years ago to get the carbs. Paid $200 for the whole package. I removed the engine and put it in the garage. Today I decided to spin it over just to spread some oil around and do a compression check. Well, the starter spins but the engine doesn’t. I removed the starter and the gear that the starter engages moves freely counterclockwise but not at all clockwise. (I think I have that right) Is this the dreaded starter clutch problem?

 

Are you certain the starter is spinning the correct direction? I believe it was jetfixer that mentioned in another thread about the possibility of the polarity being incorrect when installing replacement starter brushes/brush plate.

 

Pull the spark plugs. Put a wrench on the ignition plate. See if she spins.

 

never tried a loose engine but i would think it's going to jump all over......?

 

Pour several ounces of Marvelle or ATF down the spark plug holes let them soak for a day . And do as Kmoe said see if you you can turn it over at the crank.

 

Don't forget the acetone. 50/50 mix.

 

The engine turns easily with a wrench. The seller said that it was running but had a lot of electrical issues that made him decide to part it out. The starter spins counter clockwise if looking at it from the gear end. I just thought it was odd the the internal gear turned freely in one direction bu not the other.

 

That's the starter clutch engaging. Your finger can't apply enough force to cause the clutch to slip, so don't use that as a basis for assuming the starter clutch won't slip.

 

So looking at the internal gear, should it turn clockwise or counter clockwise?

 

If it is the same as the 82 Seca XJ750, I believe that is backwards. The starter should spin in the direction that the starter clutch does not free wheel.

Also per Len:

http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/xj-parts-catalog-section-d-electrical-system.44641/

", be very careful when re-assembling a starter motor. There is an alignment notch in the brush plate that must be aligned with the case properly, as well as alignment notches on the outside of the main case to the end caps. Failure to install the brushes and brush plate in their proper orientation can cause the starter motor to not work at all, or to even spin backwards! The correct rotation of the starter motor is counter-clockwise, looking at the butt-end of the motor (as it is installed on the engine); or, clockwise if you're looking the starter drive gear dead in its eye........"

You can also add incorrectly purchased brush plate to the above, as I recall one member here that through ebay managed to get a brush plate with the brushes reversed.