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Starter clutch problem/ Honda Nighthawk 750
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Hello, I have recently taken my Honda Nighthawk 750 out of storage
after it sat for a couple of years. I did all the recommend things
before putting it away so I was hoping for a relatively easy start.
However, I find that my starter motor just spins away without even
turning the engine over.
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If your Nighthawk is a 1991 or later model, with a starter that has
planetary gear reduction, you might just have a problem with
the reduction drive unit. You can see two of the planetary gears on
Yamaha Virago models were plagued with reduction gear problems.
The nightmare late model Nighthawk starter clutch design has some sort
of weird directional dog coupling device that seems to connect the
starter clutch to the sprocket that turns the chain that turns the
crankshaft. And the dog coupling thingamajig is preloaded by four
dished springs that are called "belleville washers".
Those springs are item # 6 on the starter clutch drawing. I have seen
stacks of preloaded belleville washers used as clutches.
The whole idea of the chain drive starter clutch on a shaft buried
deep inside the engine is to get the alternator off the end of the
crankshaft.
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It would be nice if you'd mention what year your Nighthawk is.
I looked at the 1982/1983 models. Fixing the starter clutch would be a
piece of cake on those models.
But the 1991 and on Nighthawks have a nightmare starter clutch on a
jackshaft that drives the crankshaft via a chain.
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I took out the starter motor; the pinion gear looks fine. I know the
engine is not seized because I can get it to turn over (but not start)
by rolling the bike and popping the clutch. So I think I must have a
starter clutch that is slipping.
So, question A: why would the starter clutch start acting like this
after sitting for a couple years? It was working fine before I put
the bike away. Question B: how difficult is it to get at and replace?
My clymer manual is not so clear, but it looks like I would have to
practically take the whole engine apart!
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On the DOHC 16v 750, the one wih hydraulic tappets, you do. It's a
common fault on these lumps and a right PITA.
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please help if you can and thanks in advance.
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