Kick start and clutch operation

[CB-500]

So with the clutch pressure plate, friction plates/discs and clutch centre hub removed this leaves just the clutch outer housing on the main shaft

Turn the engine over via the crank - this turns the primary drive gear clockwise which turns the clutch outer housing anti-clockwise

Being careful with two long screwdrivers I’m unable to turn just the outer clutch housing on its own the same way (anti-clockwise) in an effort to turn the engine over like the kick start would

Am I missing something?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I'm mystified, be interesting to read the fix when it pops up.

[CB-500]

I'm mystified, be interesting to read the fix when it pops up.

Hahahaha me too!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

So when you rotate the crank the primary drive chain is rotating the primary drive shaft as it should.

However rotating the primary drive shaft results in such a load that the crank will not turn either via the kick start when the clutch is in place or by hand using screwdriver levers when the clutch is removed.

Could this be connected in any way with the starter clutch hub as I can't see what else could be causing the issue?

You should have a glimpse of this mechanism when the sump is removed.

[CB-500]

I was thinking down the same lines at first - but the idler gear for the starter motor in the top crankcase locks in the correct rotation and free wheels in other - So it appears the starter clutch hub is working as should

Never the less trying to turn the outer clutch housing anti-clockwise isn’t asking the drivetrain to do anything different then what it is already doing when I turn it at the crank

[Bryanj]

In the pic it looks like the bearing behind the primary gear is not fully in, is it and the retaining  plate tight?

[CB-500]

I know what you mean about the photo

Have double checked - The bearing is fully in and retaining plate is tight against the crankcase

[Oddjob]

Just to satisfy my curiosity can you count the number of teeth on both the primary drive sprocket and the back of the clutch, just to check they are compatible. The 500 and the 550 both use different number of teeth and I'm wondering if there is a mix and match going on.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

That sounds a promising idea from Ken.

[CB-500]

Just to satisfy my curiosity can you count the number of teeth on both the primary drive sprocket and the back of the clutch, just to check they are compatible. The 500 and the 550 both use different number of teeth and I'm wondering if there is a mix and match going on.

I’ll try and count the number of teeth laters

The kick start worked before the engine was stripped so obviously something has gone a miss somewhere - But struggling to work out what

With the outer clutch housing fitted on the main shaft as per the previous photo - The transmission can be discounted as the outer clutch housing freely spins on the shaft (the inner clutch hub fits onto the main shaft splines to turn the transmission) - So trying to turn the outer clutch housing should just spin the primary gear drive and crank

This operation works when turning the crank and results in the outer clutch housing spinning anti-clockwise - but I can’t turn just the clutch housing the same direction (anticlockwise) to turn the primary gear and crank

[Oddjob]

With the pitch of the gears being different it would most likely jam solid when trying to rotate them.

[CB-500]

Ok I’ll get the teeth counted and update

The clutch and drive gears are all the originals from when the kick start did work

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

If its the same pair of gears you have re-fitted then wtf.

I assume you have the plugs out - that there is plenty of oil down the bores so no danger of the con rods not being able to work due to dry piston side wall friction with the forces being reversed?

Just my twaddle mode.

[CB-500]

Plugs out to ease compression

Bores oiled - Engine turns over nice

[Seabeowner]

So with the clutch pressure plate, friction plates/discs and clutch centre hub removed this leaves just the clutch outer housing on the main shaft

Turn the engine over via the crank - this turns the primary drive gear clockwise which turns the clutch outer housing anti-clockwise

Being careful with two long screwdrivers I’m unable to turn just the outer clutch housing on its own the same way (anti-clockwise) in an effort to turn the engine over like the kick start would

Am I missing something?

Although the clutch outer is a big diameter it will be difficult to turn the engine over using it because of the gearing.