v star 1100 starter problems

[caiken]

hi everyone i'm new to the forum thing. i have a vstar 1100 custom. i have a starting problem, some times my bike will start fine other times it starts very hard,some times it shuts down fine other times it shuts down with a hard clunk. some one told me it sounds like the starter clutch or the bendix. anyone have any thouts or ideas

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by caiken

hi everyone i'm new to the forum thing. i have a vstar 1100 custom. i have a starting problem, some times my bike will start fine other times it starts very hard,some times it shuts down fine other times it shuts down with a hard clunk. some one told me it sounds like the starter clutch or the bendix. anyone have any thouts or ideas

What year?
Explain a bit "starts very hard", please.
Does that mean that it turns over very slowly OR that it turns over at a good speed but won't fire.
The occasional clunk on shut-down is probably normal.

Unless you can hear the starter whine unusually fast or it makes an unusual grinding noise, it probably is NOT the clutch/bendix.

[Bigs]

Per the service manual on starting failure/hard starting, you have a few things you can check out: Fuel system, Electrical system, carb, switch/wiring, and compression system.
Fuel system: Fuel tank - empty, clogged fuel filter, clogged fuel strainer, clogged fuel tank drain hose, clogged roll-over valve, clogged roll-over valve breather hose, deteriorated or contaminated fuel.
Fuel %%%% - clogged fuel hose
Electrical system: Spark plug - improper gap, worn electrodes, wire between terminals severed, improper heat range, faulty plug cap.
Ignition coil - broken or shorted primary/secondary, faulty plug lead, broken body.
Fuel transistor system - faulty ignitor unit, faulty pick up coil
Carb: clogged pilot jet/pilot air passage, deformed float, worn needle valve, improperly sealed valve/adjusted fuel level/set pilot jet, clogged starter jet, improperly adjusted starter cable.
Air filter: clogged
Fuel pump: faulty fuel pump, faulty relay unit (fuel pump relay).
Switch/wiring: faulty main switch/engine stop switch/neutral switch/start switch/sidestand switch/clutch switch, broken or shorted wiring.
Starter motor: faulty starter motor/starter relay/relay unit (starting circuit cut-off relay)/starter clutch.
Compression system: Cyclinder and cylinder head - loose spark plug, loose cylinder head or cylinder, faulty cylinder head gasket, improperly sealed valve, improper valve-to-valve seat contact/valve timing, faulty valve spring
Piston and piston ring - improperly installed piston ring, bad ring.
Crankcase and crankshaft - improperly seated crankcase, seized crankshaft.

Lots of info here, I know. But perhaps you can narrow it down a little with this list.

[davidmacd2@hotmail.com]

can anyone help with?

[scubasaint]

I recently replaced the starter clutch in my 2003 Vstar 1100. From the time I bought it new (2003) there was be an audible clunk when I turned it off. Other threads in the forum indicate that you should never open the throttle when starting; otherwise it will cause kickback which will damage your starter clutch. Also low octane few is said to be a contributing factor. Hope this helps.