Hitchcocks Forum

Can anyone help me i have a electra 500 that i can't start the sprag clutch has gone so its kick start only,when i do kick it over i get a strange whirring noise like some thing else is being turned over but i don't know what is? would it help if i took the starter motor off Also it has a dellorto carb on it how do you adjust these when it does run it is too rich

Have you removed the sprag? If not, it's most likeley that it has jammed and what is happening is when you kick it over the sprag is spinning the starter motor. That is the whirring sound you hear. Remove the sprag clutch and either replace it or re assemble without it.

cheers netts the i haven't removed the sprag yet that is my next job !

It was the battery on mine - failing battery can't turn over the electric start. Check battery first rather than waste time on a primary strip. The battery needs to be in top order.

Sofa, you just jogged my old memory! I have a sprag clutch and a perfectly good battery in my garage because I assumed when my starter wouldn't work it was the sprag, and because the bike kept conking out it was the battery. I eventually found that the earth bolt on the frame had worked loose. An easy fix that cost a lot, new battery and German sprag clutch!
So check the battery and earth connections before signing off on the sprag.

Nettshubby, have you some more information about the German Sprag Clutch please with a part number. (Allegedly there is a sprag clutch inside a Borg Warner 35 automatic gearbox that will do the job.)

Papa, I`ll see if I can sort it out tomorrow. I ordered it from a local bearing suppliers, quite expensive, but not a fantastic amount more than the usual source! Ray.

Nettshubby, cheers, if I can get the exact info/specification I have a suspicion there may be a heavy duty replacement available from another application. (Just in case I ever need one.)

Papa, if you can send me your e mail to [email protected], I`ll scan you the info and comparison part no`s I found on line. the basic number is: DC-4127. do a search and you will get various makes of them, even renols do one, though that is even more expensive than the german one. I ordered mine through Brammer bearings.

Papa, here is a pic of my strip down when I replaced the sprag.

hope this helps, Ray.