Electric Starter Motor AND Kickstarter not engaging

1609 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by crazypj, Aug 5, 2016

jury08

Discussion Starter · Aug 1, 2016

I'm new to older motorcycle engines. I've had some experience my '66 Chevy with a 327 and basic repairs on my 2000's truck.

I recently purchased my '74 CB360 and I purchased it with a carb rebuild and a tune up. The bike has started up and ran wonderfully since I bought it. I was running errands around town and riding on a flat straight road at a consistent speed when I heard a sound (pop, crack, snap, etc.) in the engine. It then cuts out and I pull the clutch, coast to the sidewalk.

I hit the electric start and I can hear the starter spin but it isn't engaging anything. No compression from the exhaust, nothing turning in the engine. Then I try to kick start. The kick starter just spins freely. Not engaging anything and again, no movement in the engine or compression. What could I have damaged that both the electric and kick start aren't engaging anything in the engine?

It's been a few years since I've owned a bike and I planned on spending the summer riding and then rebuilding the engine and building a cafe over the winter. I'm hoping what I have is a minor issue that I can fix in a day rather than starting my rebuild now. It's worth noting that I've had the bike only two weeks and put only 40 miles on it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Simo

· #2 · Aug 1, 2016

Snapped cam chain

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Steveolio

· #3 · Aug 1, 2016

Not sure until ya open her up. BUT you can get a preliminary peek by taking the head off and you can do that without taking the motor off the frame

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jury08

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 1, 2016

Snapped CAM chain is what I've been suspicious of since it's affecting both kick and electric starter. Does anyone have a good resource or guide on how to do this repair? I'm tech minded and will figure it out eventually, but help is always welcome. Does it make sense to do a complete rebuild while I'm replacing the chain?

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Steveolio

· #5 · Aug 1, 2016

Get the factory service manual. We have a pdf on the forums. That will walk you through a complete rebuild but you can use it for the just the cam chain.

Does your bike have the recall work done on it? The recall involved the cam chain tensioner.

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crazypj

· #6 · Aug 1, 2016 (Edited)

Never seen a cam chain snap but I have seen starter motor clutches fail.
It could also be you have the early tensioner and it has done exactly what the recall was to prevent?
I would suspect the clutch operating mechanism or the circlip holding clutch hub to shaft?
If clutch is 'lifted' there is no drive from kickstart to crank.
Putting it in gear then trying kickstart should turn rear wheel if clutch is the problem
Top end is a pretty simple job, only need a few sockets and a Phillips screwdriver, motor doesn't get removed from frame on 360's

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jury08

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 4, 2016

crazypj said:
If clutch is 'lifted' there is no drive from kickstart to crank.
Putting it in gear then trying kickstart should turn rear wheel if clutch is the problem

I gave this a try and tried kicking it in 1st. It wanted to spin forward. My intention is to go cafe with this bike over winter. Would it get me back on the bike sooner to just remove the electric starter and clutch? I'm hoping to ride through summer and rebuild the engine over winter.

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crazypj

· #8 · Aug 5, 2016

If bike moved forwards and motor didn't try to turn over it shows clutch isn't assembled right. Pull clutch cover and take a look. To remove verything for electric start you need to pull generator rotor, rear axle has same thread and should work as a 'puller' (even though it's really pushing

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