Hi I have recently pick up my first triumph and it's a beaut . It will not start, I knew this when purchased thinking sprag clutch. The starter has been reported rebuilt the week I picked it up, compression test done and numbers said to be fine. New after market battery with readings of 12.7 volts 9-10 while cranking sort of a no name brand sold at mills fleet farm in us. Called roadrunner premium sport .Relays seem fine. I did pick it up from a triumph dealer outside minneapolis who was trying to get it started for the seller. They rebuilt the starter and said their next step was the clutch. I bought the bike and brought it to Canada 7 hours away from purchase. What is happening is the starter turns the motor intermittently and seems slow does not seem to,fire. Then starter sounds like it is spinning free. The starter alway works. It just does not always sound like it's turning the motor. The previous owner reports he was starting to have to turn it over longer before it would start. Removed the covers to get to the sprag , it only turns the one way. Does this mean its fine or with the starter load could it still be failing? I am lost and need some guidance , any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks John
Hi John A sprag clutch is simply a bearing race that will only turn one way and yes, it is possible that it could "slip" if worn.. Having said that I wouldn't like to say that this is your problem without seeing the bike, it does, however sound likely.. Hope that helps Martin
Thanks I think it is to just looking for an excuses to pull the trigger and buy the part. Bought the bike thinking this was the problem anyway. I will post how I make out.
Yeah do that, It would be good to hear the result.. When you open the cases check the condition of the gears too. Although unlikely, it is possible that some teeth on the starter output shaft or intermediate gear are worn/missing. The only way to be sure is to go in and look, that said, the sprag clutch may well look ok without a working load. Good luck Martin
Case is open gears look good. Ordered the new kit kind of pricey 650 with tax and new gaskets and o ring. 540 just for the kit no tax canadian. Was going to order from the states but dollar. Is kind of low now don't think I would have saved anything really. I will let you know how it go's , they said might take two weeks to get in. In the mean time do cable upgrade and sparks take the battery to get load tested. Figured have it open will replace the sprag regardless.
I have the side off mine too now, I have a full stripdown to do, the exhaust cam has spun off the marks, cam chain shagged.. It'll need a second hand head probably :-(
Hi again I did the starter wire mod, changed the sparks(the ones in it looked fine but figured while I had it apart). I also replace sprag with new sprag kit. Hooked the bat up pulled the trigger started 2nd go. Had the wires for the starter made at car audio place for $20 while I waited d Thanks for the help. John
I just replaced my sprag clutch just a week ago, the old one looked fine and seems to be Ok when you turn it by hand. The new one has a bigger “One way” bearing. Only problem I had was that I did not have a tool to hold the sprag while undoing the Allen Screw holding the sprag to the shaft. I made one from a piece of flat steel bar, I drilled two holes in the bar with the same spacing as the sprag holes, and used two 5mm bolts/nuts as the “location pins”. I guess I could have used a plumbers wrench seeing as the old sprag did not work and was going in the bin. Starts now first time. It did sound like the starter gear was not engaging, but it turned out to be the sprag. I changed the oil just in case there was some metal fragments. NOTE: the kit does not have gaskets, Izoom
