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[Jack the Lad]

Is this the dreaded sprag clutch failure? Pressing the starter just makes a whirring noise like an asthmatic pig. The bike starts on the kick start. Is it a big/expensive fix. I would like to keep the leccy start if poss.
Martin

[ric]

side stand up? switch fully functional?

[Adrian]

If it starts and runs OK on the K/S without any signs of mechanical grief, I would suspect that the battery is on its way out. How old is it, and is it the original Indian Exide? If giving it a booster charge still won't get it to crank the bike over, it's time for a replacement.



My Electra-X was struggling with the E/S until I bought a new 14AH Motobatt AGM battery, it certainly rejuvenated the E/S for a while until the sprag clutch actually did fail. I know it's a different model, but a tired battery will struggle to start a 500 single in either case.



A.

[PO51UHD]

Agree with Adrian's comments (but bear in mind I too am an ElectraX owner...)
...but if you're hearing a whirring sound, this suggests the starter is spinning but not driving the engine, which does suggest the dreaded sprag, I think...
try spinning it with the decompressor pulled, then dropping the decompressor whilst still turning the engine. If it starts, I would change the battery. If symptoms are the same its sprag time, I fear..
Good luck, Stephen

[Michael]

Hi Martin... with respect to the Electra X owners out there, this needs the advice of an EFI owner... there is no manual decompressor on the EFI so ignore that advice. Other aspects of the EFI engine are also completely different.




IF the starter is spinning but not engaging the engine then I would suspect the sprag. It may be that your battery isn't powerful enough anymore to spin the engine fast enough to disengage the autodecompressor - this can be checked by testing your battery. But realistically, if the starter is spinning and the engine isn't then the link between the two (the sprag clutch) is kaput. Other possibilities exist (e.g. you could have stripped teeth off the starter gears) but they are less likely. Does you machin clunk when you try to start, stop trying to start or when stopping the bike at all? Do you ever hear a whirring when stopping the engine?




IF (note, if!) the sprag is gone then you need to remove it otherwise you risk damaging other engine components or the starter motor. The sprag could disintegrate leaving bits of metal to damage your clutch (its in the same casing) or you main bearings or other bits of your engine. Removing the sprag IS NOT HARD ON THE EFI (but is much harder on the Electra X)! Replacing the sprag with a new one is expensive - budget up to 200 GBP for parts. You *may* get away with a new sprag clutch only (only about a quarter of that cost) but get an engineer to judge).




To remove the sprag (can be done in 30-45 minutes - I have done this!) do the following:




remove the rear bolt from the left hand footpeg and slightly loosen the front bolt;




remove all 10-15 ish (can't remember) allen head screws from the left hand casing (you will have to rotate the footpeg slightly, hence step 1);




lightly tap/pry off the left hand outer engine casing and collect oil (watch you don't loose any clutch mechanism bits such as pushrods etc;




loosen the chain tensioner using the bolts underneath and a flat head screw driver to help shift the ratchet mechanism;




lock the clutch basket to the main engine sprocket assembly (I use a couple of bits of wood to lock them - there is a tool though, but not really needed);




unbolt the engine sprocket and the clutch basket and lift of the lot as a single unit along with the primary chain;




open up the engine sprocket assembly ro remove the sprag (and its bits which will fall out given it's broken!). At this point you decide (a) to replace the whole assembly (200 quid plus labour), (b) replace the sprag only (less expesnive) or (c) convert to kick start only (free!).;




Put it all back together again... only withuot the broken sprag... be careful with the clutch and main engine sprocket nut torques - you don't want these to work loose or to overtighten these!!!

[Jack the Lad]

Thanks for the advice guys. Next day out on the bike it started misfiring and running poorly until it stopped altogether. It started easily on the button with the AA man's booster battery and ran properly - so thankfully not the sprag clutch, but a duff battery as Adrian suggested. The battery was not charging - and the AA man suggested it would be a regulator-rectifier failure. So I have put the battery on charge (fingers crossed it is still OK) and ordered a new 'Powerbox' from our hosts. Hopefully that will sort it and I will be back on the road after the weekend.