Starting problems with '82 CBX

[wordwrkr]

I have a 1982 Honda CBX. It's actually the second one I've owned, and it's developed exactly the same problem that the first one did: Whenever the engine begins to start, the starter disengages, spinning wildly until I let off the starter button. When the starter spins down, it re-engages with a clunk. When I again try to start the bike, the starter disengages again after a few cranks, again spinning free. My first CBX began doing the same thing; instead of having it repaired, I just bought another 1982 Honda CBX, and now it's doing the same thing! I've already replaced the starter, but that didn't help, so the problem obviously lies elsewhere in the engine. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[daves79x]

Welcome, first of all. You might fill in your location in your profile if you get a chance. Anyway, your starter clutch isn't staying engaged. These things have a bad reputation for doing this when you switch to synthetic oil. Do you know if that's what's in it? If you don't know for sure, change then oil and filter to regular oil (motorcycle specific - Honda's own oil is good). Run it a bit and see if that clears up the problem. Usually it will if the synthetic oil was the problem. Otherwise, the cases have to be split to clean/repair the starter clutch.

Dave

[Larry Zimmer]

Apologies. My slip, here. Wordwkr is located in Bonner springs. I've updated for him.

[wordwrkr]

Thank you, Daves79X! I switched to synthetic oil just last summer, thinking it would be better for the engine. I'll swap out the oil and hope that helps.

[wordwrkr]

"Otherwise, the cases have to be split to clean/repair the starter clutch." I'm guessing this is going to be very expensive, correct?