Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I think that motor carries the starter on the outside. Are you mechanically inclined?

Johnj wrote:Are you mechanically inclined?

Only when it says "Ford" on it and was built before 1970, but that doesn't stop me from taking other things apart.

Anyway, I tried to bump start it this morning and in an ironic twist of fate, the bike will not go into any gear BUT neutral while it turned on and not running. If I kick it up or down, it goes back to neutral. Gears seem to work fine when it is off. I don't know if this is a safety feature, but it makes push starting it impossible.

The first time I hit the starter this morning, it briefly tried to engage, than just spun freely. It is home now and I have time to look at it so I will probably be able to get it started eventually.

Sounds to me like there are a couple of problems in there. Mostly that your starter gear is stripped, and your shift forks seem to be bent.

Wrider wrote:Sounds to me like there are a couple of problems in there. Mostly that your starter gear is stripped, and your shift forks seem to be bent.

Starter problems don't scare me, but shift forks don't sound like fun.

Anything I can swap in an hour is easy to do, but anything requiring a tear down really isn't since I live in an apartment and don't have a workspace. Might have to farm it out if there is a transmission problem.

Where are you located? It's possible we might have someone that knows a bit able to check it out for you.

SF Bay Area, but I will probably try to take care of the starter this weekend and see what happens before I put a call in for the cavalry