Rage starter turns, but no crank

[4strokelover87]

I am working on an '06 Rage for a friend of mine that won't start. The starter turns ( we can hear it ), but it doesn't crank the motor 100% of the time. It has slowly gotten worse, when it started, it would just disengage momentarily, but would eventually still start. It is to the point now where it hardly ever engages and cranks the motor over. It mostly just free spins, and every now and then makes an obnoxious noise like it's trying to engage. Would I be right to assume this is a starter clutch issue inside the motor?? If so, looks like I'll be pulling the dang motor!!

Any advice or confirmation here would be much appreciated before I start in on this!! Thanks guys!!!

 

[pdiddy]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Let us know how it goes. Out of curiosity, what kind of oil has your friend been running in his sled?

 

[4strokelover87]

Yamalube

 

[Sled Dog]

It is your starter clutch and are you sure you need to pull the motor? I just did my rx1 and I was able to replace it without pulling the motor. If you search my threads on starter clutch you will find how to shorten the spring that holds the sprag bearing together just shorten it by a quarter inch and put it back together fixed.

 

[4strokelover87]

Sled Dog, you are telling me it is the starter clutch then?? 100%??

Looking at it, it sure looks like I need to pull the motor!! No way the right side of that motor is coming off through the frame...unless I'm missing something!! Will check out your threads!!

Thanks!!!

 

[Sled Dog]

On mine I took off the chain case side moulding, the oil tank and the engine cover. Then use a puller to take off the fly wheel then the clutch. Its the clutch assembly 100% and all you have to do is shorten the spring on the sprag bearing to fix it. Order a new gasket for the cover as well no need in trying to reuse it its not that expensive. There is a link on my posts on how to shorten the spring on the sprag bearing in which I am thinking we should make into a sticky.

 

[4strokelover87]

Found your link, Sled Dog!!! Looks like a nice fix!!! I would probably go that route if it was one of my sleds, but being as it's not mine, I think I will just replace it altogether, they are only $135...

I talked to a buddy that changed the starter clutch on his Rage last year, his had 16k miles on it though...not 1,800!!! Sounds like I may get away without pulling the motor completely out, but just rolling it forward to gain access to all the bolts and get the cover pulled off...will keep you posted!!!

 

[Handy]

According to the service manual you shouldn,t have to move the engine. The starter clutch is in the stator on the end of the crankshaft.

 

[4strokelover87]

There are four bolts that are tucked in behind the bulkhead and I don't see any way of getting to them without rolling the motor forward...???