[Gromit42]

I've been reading about others having trouble w/the electric start. I have an 06 electra and was able to kick start it once. I let it run for awhile then hit the kill switch. I then pressed the electric start and it worked. But then when it stalled, the electric start did not work. The starter just runs with no engagement. Then the electric start stopped working at all. I tried to kick start again, but nothing happens. The bike I bought used. I've been seeing others having trouble with the "sprag clutch"...here is where the dumb part is...what is the sprag clutch, where can it be found, and does my problem sound like something that replacing the sprag clutch could help? Also, I do have a sidecar attached so am wondering as to what elso may need replacing to better the pull of the engine with the sidecar.

any and all suggestions welcome.
gromit and td

[Tiny Tim]

Gromit,

The symptoms you describe is exactly what happened to my Electra.

Bike was started and was ticking over (very low). The theory is that when it stalled, it actually tried to spin backwards.

Following that, the starter just whirred, obviously connected to nothing. It turned out that the Sprag Clutch had siezed and would not engage. It had to be replaced.

The Sprag Clutch is a "one way" device that allows the starter to spin the engine but won't let the engine spin the starter.

Replacement is not too comlplicated, but you need to have an idea of what you're doing and a couple of specialised tools.

My general advise is to avoid the low tickover, especially when the engine is cold as it is more likely to stall and repeat its self destruct programme.

[chanderjeet]

This is where my dumb part starts....

what is a low tickover. 

[chumma7]

This is where my dumb part starts....

what is a low tickover. 

tickover is a metaphor for idle. low tickover = low idle

[REpozer]

Gromet,
What did you find out?

[Gromit42]

Update...the rig is on it's way back to the dealer who is going to go over the whole electrical system, starter and see what the problem is. He reported there is a problem with many of the e-starters in how they are wired into the handlebars. It is too cold up here to ride right now anyways. so once it is repaired the dealer will send it back and hopefully all will work. In the mean time I've been training TD to sit and lay down when inthe sidecar.

gromit and TD (top dawg)

[UncleErnie]

Do you pull the decompressor when using the E-start?
I' understand that helps a lot. 

[calman28556]

If you have your bike in the RE shop-have the mechanic check your sprocket.  Mine came with an 18 but when I changed it to a 17 I could really feel a difference in the "pull".  Might also want to have him check the carb jets.   And, it even increased my gas mileage by 4 MPG.

[jayprashanth]

I have a doubt here. Will the sprag self-destruct even if the electric start isn't used i.e if I use only the kick start for starting the bullet.

I am asking this primarily because of the fact that I have been hearing people here in India saying that the Sprag clutch has left their bike all locked up in the middle of nowhere.

So, the question is whether the sprag self destructs even while the Engine backfires due to low tickover or even while kick starting the bike. I haven't seen a bullet that hasn't backfired as bullets usually backfire atleast a few times a month.

Please advise. I am not averse to removing the sprag clutch on my new machismo 500(going to be purchased shortly) to make sure that it is more reliable as I intend to take it to the Himalayas and some other remote areas of India.
Motorcycle gurus kindly advise.

Happy Thumping
PS: I don't mind kick starting the motorcycle all the time.

[The Garbone]

I don't think so,  I do not use my ES and therefor have no problem with my sprag...

[REpozer]

From  the other treads , Spag failure occurs mostly during  use of E-start,,,,, however Tiny Tim  had a failure induced by a low tic-over back fire.

[Tiny Tim]

The theory is that with the electronic ignition and the fixed timing (no adjustment) there should never be a back fire.

If the tick-over is not set real low then things should be OK.

However, it seems that the old TCI unit has been picking up spurious interference causing miss-firing / timing problems, thus nuking the sprag!

This is one of the items fixed with the new replacement TCI unit.

This is my understanding, please feel free to correct me if I've got it wrong.

All I have to do now is embaress the UK distributor to give me one.

Sigh!

REgards

TT

[Kevin Mahoney]

TT,
I think you have it right.

[jayprashanth]

Thanks TT and Kevin.

 I feel much better abou the E-start now. Even after hearing this,  I will primarily kick start my LB500. Meanwhile, I booked an Alberto green Machismo 500LB here in Bangalore on the 3rd of this month. The dealer has promised me delivery in about 25-30 days. Very excited and eager to own the LB500 as this is my first motorcycle.

Happy Thumping,

Jay

[Kevin Mahoney]

Jay,
Push your dealer for the new TCI unit. He will not know what you are talking about but tell him the export markets have figured this out and it is available. One caution though, the 350 unit is different from the 500 unit.