What causes the electric starter of a motorcycle to idle?
2 Answers
The reason is an electric starter slipping issue. The specific causes and solutions are as follows: Electric starter slipping: Since the electric starting device and the engine transmission adopt a very meshing method, during each electric starting condition, the electric starter overrunning clutch assembly moves and engages with the crankshaft starting gear, but fails to subsequently transmit power to the crankshaft. Sometimes, due to certain reasons, the electric starter overrunning clutch cannot properly engage with the crankshaft starting gear, causing the electric starter overrunning clutch assembly to idle and failing to effectively transmit power to the crankshaft starting gear, resulting in the electric starter slipping phenomenon. Solution: Check the battery to ensure its technical condition is good.
My old motorcycle recently had the issue of the electric starter spinning freely without engaging. The mechanic said the main problem was with the starter clutch. Simply put, the starter motor was turning, but it couldn’t get the engine to crank. A common cause is excessive wear on the clutch shoes—when they’re worn out, they can’t grip the engine shaft, so power doesn’t transfer. Also, older models often have issues with the chain and sprockets, either from a loose chain or worn-out teeth. Another culprit could be the one-way clutch (overrunning clutch); if it fails, the motor just spins freely. In the end, it turned out the clutch shoes were shot, and replacing them fixed the problem. Remember to regularly clean grease and grime off the chain to extend part lifespan.
