Ugly sound from Virago...

My buddy has been working on his Virago 500 while I've been re-doing my XJ over the winter. While trying to start it today it started to make a really nasty clunking sound, similar to the piston in an engine hitting something in the cylinder.... Just wondering how hard it is to pull the cylinders on these V-twins. All my experience is on the inline 4 so just looking for a heads up of what we're about to get into and if there's anything particular to watch for once we get in there. Tutorials or anything like that would be helpful as well.

Thanks!

 

I was never happier than when my ex-wife left me and took her 83 500 with her. POS (the bike, not her).

 

they are pretty much like a briggs and stratton not sure if you can pull the cys off without pulling the motor. I know you cant on the bigger motors

 

No, I know we're gonna have to pull the motor. Just wondering how bad it's gonna be after that...

 

You sure it's not the starter clutch? When they start to fail they sound like the whole engine is being destroyed.

You might pull the flywheel cover and turn it by hand to confirm that something is knocking around in the engine.

 

Actually that makes a good point MiCarl, we did turn it over by hand and it didn't make the noise... So would that mean the starter has to be replaced?

 

Found a diagram of the starter clutch on babbits, but can anyone tell me where it is on the bike? I assume it's near the starter...

 

Time for a service manual.......

It's going to be on the left side of the engine. Behind the alternator rotor I believe.

 

The v-twin viragos are known for starter issues. My brother in law is dealing with this same issue now

 

Starter clutch is right where the starter goes into the case Between the starter and flywheel. Its not really a clutch its 2 gears with a spring. To be honest with you i might be wrong but i didn't think 500s had starter clutch problems it was the 700 750s and 1000s thru 84 i believe 85 700s still used the porley designed start system. The hardest part of pulling the cyls is the drive shaft. Very simple just get a manual no shims to worry about of the valves . If it does have a starter grinding problem you will know it the starter will engage gears will grind then kick out the starter will keep turning

 

I know i'm kinda necroing this thread lol but a quick fix if you can, is to flip the secondary gear around, so the good teeth engage the starter motor.