750 SF Starter Clutch guidance.

alpinista

New member
Hi All
The starter clutch on my '72 750SF is starting to slip and is rapidly getting worse. Before I jump in with both feet, has anyone got a few pointers on removal, inspection and repair/replacement.
thanks
Pete.
 
As for removal you need the Laverda puller. Although on my 750GT, hitting it with a rubber mallet usually will break the taper free. Also the nut is left hand thread. If it has not been serviced in a while, the plungers, springs and rollers will probably all need to be replaced. Sometimes the plungers and springs will be stuck in bloody tight! A light coating of thin grease before assembly and your good to go. Also I get rid of the rivets holding the plate on and replace with screws and nuts. And finally you need to take the starter clutch off and clean and re-grease as a normal part of maintenance. Don't wait for problems to happen.
 
The Biggest Problem with the 750SF Starter Clutch is the stupid Back Plate Rivets come loose causing the Back Plate to FLEX. The Dog's will rattle and destroy the Springs. The Dog's Pins are probably OK but you buy new Dogs and Springs from Wolfgang Hearter. Either Drill and Tap the Fly Wheel for Bolts or Mig Weld the Back Plat onto the Flywheel will solve the problem. I use an 80 SAE Moly-Kote as a lubricant.

The Back Plate or Cage as it is called has to be true and not excessively warped.

Guess we are all saying the same thing.
 
I have never yet had a nut that needed rattling off. A good tap on the socket bar against compression with my trusty nylon mallet has always done it, I do the reverse for refitting it and have never had one come loose. To get the taper free I just give a quick stab of the starter to engage it and it has always jumped loose for me, but this does require it to grab.
From my experience the oilier and greasier it is the more prone it is to slipping, as it is exposed to moisture.
Over time the freewheel also gets pretty chopped around where the rollers engage. Does anyone refurbish these with hard spray-weld or bearing sleeve?
As 1200TS says, give it a going over as part of maintenance, or a first sign of slipping and have a set of springs handy. The springs break and then the rollers are loose.
 
Thanks for all the useful replies guys, it's good to get pointed in the right direction - "cover me, I'm going in!"
Pete
 
Does anyone refurbish these with hard spray-weld or bearing sleeve?

Hi Tippie  - About 20 years ago I fitted a needle roller inner ring to my s/m sprocket - also did a couple of small arc welds to  retain it to the sprocket to make sure it doesn't slip around the thinner annulus that it was shrunk onto. Has worked fine and shows no sign of ever wearing out - I seem to remember that I had to surface grind the I/R down as I couldn't get one narrow enough from a bearing shop. - Regards - Phil
 
By way of an update. Had a couple of hours spare on Sat to make a start.

The cage, rollers and plungers are all in very good order, 5 of the 6 springs were around half their original length. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that they are the same length and diameter as the springs from a ball-point pen?

Raided the office, fitted 6 new springs, re-assembly nearly complete. Will get back to it tonight. I haven't welded or bolted the cage, as the rivets looked fine and the back plate was perfectly true.

Pete.
 
bit late now Pete but seeing you are up road,remember I am now the Keeper of the ILOC tool library of which there are implements for 750s :D :D
 
alpinista said:
has anyone else noticed that they are the same length and diameter as the springs from a ball-point pen?

I've heard it said that size doesn't matter. It's how you use it that counts.

To some extent that's also true of springs. If it fits in the hole, the spring rate is more important than the length (which can be compensated for).

Ball-point pen springs are typically fairly piss-weak little affairs, so pale and weedy clerical types with asthma can click them. You may find you need something with a bit more testosterone for your starter clutch.
 
As a general rule do NOT let grease near the clutch rollers, maybe some light oil.
It is after all a device that slips in one direction but hopefully grips in the other.
 
Simon,
I just used light dry lube for the rollers.

The spring rate seemed pretty similar to me during my 'exhaustive testing procedures'. On springs that small I can't imagine that it can be too critical, as you would be measuring the compression rate in grammes. Length and diameter are probably more important, ahem!

Thanks Shaun, everything came apart without the need for the special surgical instruments. Good to know they are just down the road, is free delivery included? :D
 
Been using general purpose grease on my starter clutches for near 25 years. Use it generously, the excess will centrifuge off at the first push of the button and then it'll be a zillion starts before you need to get back in there.
Have used margarine as a roadside repair on the SFC, works fine.
Ciao
Paul
 
General purpose may well be ok as it does not have PTFE, Molybdenum or extreme pressure additives.
Try and think how the clutch works, it needs a small amount of friction to reverse the rollers and drive. If superior lubricant is used the clutch may slip.

I will insert a quote from a Sprag Clutch manufacturer:

'Sprag clutches may be oil or grease lubricated. Most sprag clutch manufacturers do not allow the use of lubricants containing extreme pressure additives'.
 
Sounds like a split decision on the lubricant question. I guess you speak as you find.

Clutch back together tonight and no sign at all of slippage. Thanks for all the input everyone.

Pete.
 
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