What happened?

[scdmarx]

Turned the key on and see the lights. Apply the choke in the usual fashion. Push the start button and hear "r-reee-nee-nee BANG!"

Whoa! Watch out!

I give the start button another push and all I get is "clunk".
Wondering what just happened, half in disbeleif, trying to picture in my head what is going on with the starter, I try the button a couple more times.
Still nothing but "clunk...clunk"

By this time I'm begging :beg: Please don't be a timing belt".

Still hopeing for some kind of starter problem, I start trying to roll the bike forward or backward in various gears, all the while imagining that I'm probably bending the rest of the valves. I don't know if I just found the right gear or if something finally gave, but the bike started rolling like it was in gear. So I pulled the clutch and tried the start botton again, and she fired right up like nothing ever happened.

What happened?

 

[AApple]

I'm not an expert on 'Wings, by any means, but it sounds like the starter clutch may have had a problem. There was a thread here not too long ago with a very similar issue. The starter would "clunk", and the engine would appear to be locked up. Moving the bike would free it up, until the starter was engaged again.
Hopefully, some one else will have better a idea. Sure hope it's not a major deal... :beg:

 

[dan filipi]

Did it seem to backfire at all?
I've had some pretty nasty sounding clunks and bangs which appeared to be the starter clutch and maybe the primary chain banging around.
Could also have been hydro locked which jammed the starter. When hydro locked you'll hear a pretty loud bang when the piston comes up on it's first compression. It's a pretty violent impact on the piston that can bend a rod, scared the crap outa me the first time I had it happen to me.
Always turn the petcock to off when parked. This is why I installed a solenoid fuel valve on mine in case I forget, which I will.

 

[scdmarx]

No backfire at all. Sounded like somebody hit the engine with a sledge hammer after about 3/4 revolution. The motor always has smoked after a cold start up, but then clears right up after about a minute. It runs just as good as it did before the bang. Starts good and everything. I do have new valve seals for it. I'm trying to accumulate all the parts I need to start working on it. It would be nice to get as much done at once while I have it tore down. I should try a carb adjustment when I have the time, but I kinda wanted to adjust the valves before I do that. No point in doing that untill I change the seals. Course, I'll need gaskets....see what I mean?

Remembering to turn the petcock back on is a bigger problem for me. :blush:

 

[scdmarx]

I'm not an expert on 'Wings, by any means, but it sounds like the starter clutch may have had a problem. There was a thread here not too long ago with a very similar issue. The starter would "clunk", and the engine would appear to be locked up. Moving the bike would free it up, until the starter was engaged again.
Hopefully, some one else will have better a idea. Sure hope it's not a major deal... :beg:

Are you thinking of the starter that ran backwards?

 

[dan filipi]

Sounded like somebody hit the engine with a sledge hammer after about 3/4 revolution.

That's just what mine sounded like.

 

[scdmarx]

Forgot. I meant to add that when it started, it started good and ran good. Not like a gas or coolant fouled plug or anything. I'm hopeing it was just a freak event. Thought I would check here with the minds of masters in case there's something I should be looking for. I just don't feel confident that I know enough, and afraid I could be ignoring a serious warning.

 

[hondaman]

I had a similar event happen several years ago, changed the starter, and that cured the problem. This might sound like a one time event, but it will happen more often. The re-eeee sound was the starter drive not engaging with the the starter gear, and before the starter stopped spinning the drive engaged, causing the clunking sound. The starter has a weak spring that engages the drive to the gear. I purchased a new replacement on ebay, for just over $100.00, and have not had any starter problems since. I hope your problem is just a simple starter swap.
Hondaman

 

[AApple]

I'm not an expert on 'Wings, by any means, but it sounds like the starter clutch may have had a problem. There was a thread here not too long ago with a very similar issue. The starter would "clunk", and the engine would appear to be locked up. Moving the bike would free it up, until the starter was engaged again.
Hopefully, some one else will have better a idea. Sure hope it's not a major deal... :beg:

Are you thinking of the starter that ran backwards?

Nah...it was "Starter issues...won't turn engine over." :good:

 

[Omega Man]

It was hydro lock...the locked up feeling...the need to roll it forward and back, still feels locked up...then it starts. It's happened to me 4 times, every time I forgot the petcock. Did it rev up slowly and smell like gas was leaking?

~O~

 

[scdmarx]

Did it rev up slowly and smell like gas was leaking?

~O~

Nope. I was still kinda in shock and paying attention. It started great and ran just as good as it ever did, right from the start up. This is the part that steers me away from the hydrolock theory. But I can't really say one way or the other because I don't know what happened.

 

[mcgovern61]

I was getting that little puff on startup and I did hydrolock my '81 engine several times. Luckily, I had a weak battery and did not do any damage. I found out that my floats were not adjusted correctly and even though I do turn off the petcock, gas was leaking from the carbs. Didn't smell anything most of the time, started normal (at least my normal for that engine) and bammmm stopped dead. Took out the plugs and there was just enough gas to make it wet and also just enough to lock up the engine. Ran the starter with no plugs and it cleared out. Over the winter, I smelled gas and saw a leak out the exhaust pipes and realized that the carbs leaked into the intakes.

Long story short, I adjusted the floats and stopped the leaking. I also noticed that the puff of smoke diminished a little except when left on the side stand. Took out the carbs again and put them on the same angle as the bike on the side stand and sure enough, after about 10 minutes, the #2 carb started to leak. This time, I pulled the float pins, really cleaned them and the port they seat into and reset the floats one more time. Tested them tilting the carbs 45 degrees in either direction and no more leaking. Put them back on the bike and no more startup puff of smoke which I am now positive was unburned gas.

I am not saying it is not the starter or starter clutch, just sharing what happened to me!

 

[scdmarx]

I am not saying it is not the starter or starter clutch, just sharing what happened to me!

Everyone who shares is a help. I asked here because I'd like to know everyone elses experience (since I have relatively little when it comes to Wings) Thanx.

 

[stratocat]

I have had the same issue. Not long ago I dropped the bike while backing out the driveway. When I picked it up and tried to start it I expreienced the same issue youare describing. I had to remove the plug at the rear of the engine and rotate the engine with a wrench a couple of turns to free it up. The it started and ran fine with no issues. I think it has something to do with the starter not engaging properly. When it happened, I tried rolling the bike to free it up and that did not work for me.