Wont Start

[Gold Rush]

Pretty convincing evidence. If starter is spinning and engine is not turning there is a mechanical issue in the starter/reduction gear assembly area.

[rhino 2]

Ok, all good information. I have heard about the sprag(one way clutch). Reading on another form for Goldwing's it was suggested to remove spark plugs and push the bike in reverse/forward which would turn the engine and by chance would release and or unlock the one way clutch. Tired that with no luck. Will be going after the starter soon, to check for damage.

Again in neutral key on push the starter button and I hear a motor spinning noise, with the plugs out I put my thumb over one of the spark plug holes and no compression. So the engine is not turning.

Still open for any ideas.

Could the reverse cables be out of adjustment and or stuck causing this problem?

Yea ' Replace the starter! Or have it rebuilt ' But like I said before I have no faith in rebuilt starters 😱📞

[Sidecarbill]

There is no bendix in a honda starting system. Pull the starter and check for stripped splines or gear teeth.

[Gold Rush]

Hey Joe. I got to thinking about your issue and the more I thought, the harder time I had convincing myself your starter or reduction gear assembly is bad. As you said earlier the starter spins but the engine does on turn over.

So, I did some research in my service manual. The reduction assembly is a bunch of gears so unless one of them stripped or the key sheered I don't see that being the problem. Here is a copy and paste from the 2006 service manual. My 2015 manual is not on the computer so it's just easier to reference the '06 version.



Starter/reverse motor turns, but engine does not turn• Faulty starter clutch (page 11-15)

Problem is this clutch in internal to the engine. Hopefully I'm wrong and you discover some external failure.

[trike tech]

I may be out of line or dead wrong here, but I'd strongly suggest removing the starter & verifying it's actually turning where the "magic happens" (the end gear section you see with the starter removed from the rear case).

There is an internal gear reduction & splined shaft that slides into the end of the stater gear that actually turns the motor (see attached image circled in red). Seen starters "go bad" a few times for various reasons. The round gear inside the case you see with the starter removed (just off to the side) is part of the reverse mechanism & doesn't have any bearing on the motorcycle starting (circled yellow part is what engages the reverse).

[Gold Rush]

I may be out of line or dead wrong here, but I'd strongly suggest removing the starter & verifying it's actually turning where the "magic happens" (the end gear section you see with the starter removed from the rear case).

There is an internal gear reduction & splined shaft that slides into the end of the stater gear that actually turns the motor (see attached image circled in red). Seen starters "go bad" a few times for various reasons. The round gear inside the case you see with the starter removed (just off to the side) is part of the reverse mechanism & doesn't have any bearing on the motorcycle starting (circled yellow part is what engages the reverse).

THAT IS WHAT I WAS MISSING!!! I was sure I'd seen something else but when I went looking again the obvious evaded me "AGAIN". That piece is the External one that just may be the real culprit!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I thought we were talking about a HONDA GL1800 here...

My Bad, Harley on the Brain. But, my question is the same. Does the HONDA starter have a solenoid?

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Answered ... guess it's a one way clutch ... same principle. Should of said engagement thingie ...

[rhino 2]

Answered ... guess it's a one way clutch ... same principle. Should of said engagement thingie ...

Bendix Gear, Not to be confused with a Bendix Spring.....

[John Luciano]

Yes. What you have is something to do with your reverse. A friend had his Rev switch get stuck and it sounds like the same issue u have.

a solenoids ( relay ) only make the starter spin. He has spin . He has no engage. I forget what year ? You mention cable. Tells me 1999 or older

I never see a year mentioned. You are all assuming 2006. Did I miss it ?

[refuelman]

Again thanks for all the information. I have not had time to really work on the trike. By the way I did not mention what year it is. I have a 2003 Champion trike kit in 2010, has less than 60,000 miles. I will keep everyone updated.

[refuelman]

Ok, I am back with an update on my starting problem. I got the starter off and the small gear turns inside its self.

I know that doesn't make since.

If you look at the diagrams from Trike Tech and the part the is in the red circle shows to be a solid shaft with the small splined teeth on the very end.

It seems that the rebuilder do to cost savings and or to make it fit more application's, they have drilled out the end of the solid shaft inserted the splined stub of a shaft and then crossed drilled the main shaft and installed a pin through the two shafts.

The pin has broken and the small splined section spins without turning the starting motor.

I have the OEM starter which was changed out due to the brushes being worn down. I will be using the OEM drive end housing and all the gears onto the newer starter motor.

My hope is that nothing inside the engine at the starter gears is bad.

Thanks for all the information.

[Jack Klarich]

Looks like you found your problem

[Burnerboy]

I love post like this (not because someone has a problem/that part does suck) BUT because it give us all a chance to learn something mechanical just in case it happens to any one of us, while out in the road somewhere far..

Glad you found your problem

Ronnie