color me stupid :-)

[mga]

So, i go to change the oil in my 2k Y 400 BB and, without reading what types of oil to use, i just put in 10w-40 motor oil.....then i decided to read exactly what type of oil i should be using. Apparently, the ATV oil is designed to also work with the clutch..lol...which is probably  why i was having a few issues going into the gears, or, maybe losing 1st gear going down a hill. Ok, now that i got educated i bought like 6 quarts of the "special" oil required. 

Now, my second issue is it was hard to start for some reason. Usually it fires right up. So, once started i brought it up to the garage and removed the seat, thinking maybe the battery was weak from sitting. Nope...12.5 volts, but.....a mouse decided to build his nest right on top of the battery. I cleaned that all out, but, when i went to start it, the solenoid clicks and the starter just spins. UGH. One thing after another. No wires were chewed thankfully. Just kind weird the starter would do that all of a sudden when i messed with the oil.

Do i need to pull the starter now and check the bendix thing? It spens real nice, it just won't engage. The wrong oil wouldn't do that...would it?

[davefrombc]

There is no bendix on your starter motor. It operates through a sprag ( one way clutch) ..  There is a service manual in the  downloads section for your machine. If the starter spins up  then  it  is good  and  the rollers in the sprag are not locking it up 

Here is the link to the file in downloads  

 

[Gwbarm]

As im reading your post several things come to mind. The oil would have nothing to do with your other problem, in fact it might have been fine but good you got ATV oil.

Your second issue 

9 hours ago, mga said:

the solenoid clicks and the starter just spins

Generally when i hear someone say the soloenoid clicks, means it does not turn the engine over, which is generally a starter or battery issue, but different terminology means different thing to different people, thats what that means to me, but you say the starter just spins without engaging the engine, correct, is the click before the starter starts spinning. If that is what is happening it sounds like the teeth are not engaging and starter just spinning, something wrong in the starter, i would pull it and take a look and bench test it for proper rotation and strength.

[mga]

ok...removed the starter, tested it and it spins great. obviously it's not engaging the fly wheel for some reason. I'll have to pull those covers off to see whats going on inside there.

when i mentioned the "solenoid" i meant the relay switch next to the battery. Every thing works , the starter will spin but not engage the fly wheel or what ever it's supposed to grab to turn the engine over.

[mga]

so.....after watching numerous videos, apparently my starter clutch is bad and not allowing the starter to engage. ugh.

[Gwbarm]

What i meant about the soloenoid is generally when i hear it click it does not turn the starter makes kind of low pitch buzzing sound .

With the starter out can you get to the teeth on the flywheel to turn it with srewdriver or something similar to see if it turns freely, or turns the engine over. I very rarely see those one way bearings go bad, but it is possible. Also does the engine rotate correctly with the pull starter.

[mga]

9 hours ago, Gwbarm said:

What i meant about the solenoid is generally when i hear it click it does not turn the starter makes kind of low pitch buzzing sound .

With the starter out can you get to the teeth on the flywheel to turn it with srewdriver or something similar to see if it turns freely, or turns the engine over. I very rarely see those one way bearings go bad, but it is possible. Also does the engine rotate correctly with the pull starter.

unfortunately, i don't have a pull starter. rope was missing when i bought it. I pulled the cover off and the starter clutch spins freely both ways. So, i ordered a flywheel puller (35mm) and when i get that off, i'll probably find those "dog" things (not sure what they're called), are all bad. I'll get it apart this weekend and let you know what i find.

Another starter clutch is cheap...maybe $40 or so. If it's bad, i'll buy a new one.

Again, the starter itself works great, everything inside the otor cover was just spinning freely.

 

[davefrombc]

The sprag  is like a one way bearing.. The rollers in it are  nor round ,,  Spun in one direction the stay laid down  and the assembly spins freely..  Change the rotation and the  rollers cam against the race and lock up  the assembly..  When starting the rollers cam to  lock the assembly  and start the engine.. When the engine starts the  assembly rotates faster than the starter drives it so the rollers release. The starter and assembly are then effectively disconnected .. It works much more simply  than  it  is easy to explain.

When you install   a new sprag  be sure to install iit in the right direction. If it is backwards the starter will not engage to start the engine.   It   is an easily done mistake.

Edited September 12, 2025 by davefrombc

[mga]

On 9/11/2025 at 12:18 PM, Gwbarm said:

What i meant about the solenoid is generally when i hear it click it does not turn the starter makes kind of low pitch buzzing sound .

With the starter out can you get to the teeth on the flywheel to turn it with srewdriver or something similar to see if it turns freely, or turns the engine over. I very rarely see those one way bearings go bad, but it is possible. Also does the engine rotate correctly with the pull starter.

unfortunately, i don't have a pull starter. rope was missing when i bought it. I pulled the cover off and the starter clutch spins freely both ways. So, i ordered a flywheel puller (35mm) and when i get that off, i'll probably find those "dog" things (not sure what they're called), are all bad. I'll get it apart this weekend and let you know what i find.

Another starter clutch is cheap...maybe $40 or so. If it's bad, i'll buy a new one.

Again, the starter itself works great, everything inside the otor cover was just spinning freely.

 

removed it and this is whaat i have. Those rollers do not move in or out and they don't look long enough to grab that larger gear.

ugh...i tried posting photos...i hope these show up

and....how in thee heck do i remove them? those screws are TIGHT!

 

 

E920A8EF-BBC6-49C9-9572-65DD527BBE96.heic 605A7EF2-B94E-490E-9573-D21CCCBEEC1D.heic

Edited September 14, 2025 by mga

[davefrombc]

The "rollers"  in the sprag  clutch ( one way bearing)  do not move in and  out.  They are not round but designed so that when the inner race  (  holding the  rollers)  turns in one direction they  rotate out and jam against the outer race  and turn the entire assembly..  When the outer race turns faster than the inner,  the rollers release  from the outer race and allow the assembly   to spin freely  In  other words, when you  hit the starter the rollers cam out against the out race locking up  and turning the motor over. When the motor starts the outer race spins faster releasing the  motor from the starter drive...  Search on a  "sprag clutch" for a much better description of how they work  than  I  can give  you..

Those  pdf's don't  open ..  To  post a picture   Just  select it from where you have it stored and drag it into the area marked.  Pictures should be in Jpeg format, not pdf

[Gwbarm]

Yes they are tight, you may have to apply heat, i always try to remove with flywheel still in place, but since its out you will need to use an impact PB BLaster for lubricant and heat.

[mga]

ok...lol...i think i got it this time...

 

3 hours ago, Gwbarm said:

Yes they are tight, you may have to apply heat, i always try to remove with flywheel still in place, but since its out you will need to use an impact PB BLaster for lubricant and heat.

 

[mga]

always one screw...removed 5...one is stubborn....i'm letting the PB blaster soak for a few, then try again.

anyway, for some reason they were not turning the engine...maybe worn too much? They didn't look good in the picture, but, i'll replace them either way.

5 hours ago, davefrombc said:

The "rollers"  in the sprag  clutch ( one way bearing)  do not move in and  out.  They are not round but designed so that when the inner race  (  holding the  rollers)  turns in one direction they  rotate out and jam against the outer race  and turn the entire assembly..  When the outer race turns faster than the inner,  the rollers release  from the outer race and allow the assembly   to spin freely  In  other words, when you  hit the starter the rollers cam out against the out race locking up  and turning the motor over. When the motor starts the outer race spins faster releasing the  motor from the starter drive...  Search on a  "sprag clutch" for a much better description of how they work  than  I  can give  you..

Those  pdf's don't  open ..  To  post a picture   Just  select it from where you have it stored and drag it into the area marked.  Pictures should be in Jpeg format, not pdf

yea, i fixed the pictures...using a macbook and still not used to it. I understand how they work, but, apparently, mine were not doing the job....at least i hope they are the problem.

[mga]

by the way...no one told me the heat required would melt whatever that plastic stuff is. I might just buy a whole new assmbly