Loud noise!

[kam]

I tried to start my 82 Vision last night for the first time in about 6 months. It took a lot of cranking to get it to start since I had the gas tank off and the carbs were dry. I heard this loud noise ( metal hitting metal ) when starter was energized . I had heard this before may once or twice last year too, but last night it was making this noise a lot more frequent. It took about 5 or 6 minutes to get the bike started and I heard it at least 7 or 8 times. After it finally started, it idled high for a while and then settled down fine. . Could it be some part of  the starter going bad or I have something out of whack in the engine? Has anybody experienced anything like this?
Thanks,
Kam

[Silver_Bullet]

Hey Kam,
How about a little more info.  Is it making this noise only while starter is engaged and turning engine over, or does it continue once engine running?  Is engine  running  otherwise OK?  No similar experience, but in reading prior posts, it could be numerous things, from starter clutch mechanism in sidecase, to valvegear, to  ???  Hope we can help.
Mark

[Humber]

Probably you suffer from infamous cranking noise... (sounds like gears where just about to crack) few posts about it...  supposedly caused by low battery or wrong charging.... supposedly does no harm....

[RobTx]

Classic starter clutch noise.  Go to Luckys website to read how to fix it.  http://www.geocities.com/lucky_142/indexa.html
Rob

[Humber]

Rob, that's not the case - my starter clutch is OK and it made that sound just after reassembly - it is that damn bothersome cranking noise, like engine was just about to fall apart - very ugly sound - u will be scared if u hear it on yours....

[Lucky]

I describe it as a metalic "SNAP", and i'm pretty sure I know what it is.

if cranking speed isn't what it should be, (due to charging, battery or starter problems) and other patrs of the starting system are weak, such as flat spotted clutch rollers, worn springs, dammaged clutch, etc,  then what happens is that as you let OFF the starter button the crankshaft will sometimes 'kick back' if a piston is on the power stroke & doesn't catch (start)

I wouldn't say definativly that this causes no dammage, I have no way of knowing that for sure.  but what it does tell me is that possably something is not up to snuff.  (one of the above mentioned items)

if it happens only once or twice a season, I'd tend to ignore it, but if it increases in frequency, then start checking out your charging system and starter, if their good (not fair) then start looking at the starter clutch.

[RobTx]

My starter clutch noise sounded like hitting the engine cases really hard with a ball peen hammer.  My rollers were worn kind of hexagontal and the bolts were loose.  Someone here offered me a complete flywheel/starter clutch with the peened bolts for really cheap.  It completely fixed my problem.  
Rob

[Rick G]

Cheap insurance, when you are making the first start of the season (or just fireing it up to keep it alive) is to jump it from the car . mine will "buck " when it is below 45 deg. f. unless i jump it.

[Lucky]

Should we name this
The Vision CLANK!

how about
The Vision Knock!
for the starter clutch

and
The Vision BANG!
for the backfire

--Lucky

[Silver_Bullet]

Yeah, Lucky,  I guess we have a more modern version of Chitty-Chitty-BANG-BANG!  Definately a do-it-yourselfer, a bit odd by times, but just as endearing to it's owner.
By successfully owning and maintaining a Vision, do we qualify as experts in diagnosing mechanical problems by sound?

[jasonm.]

If the sound is what I think it is. It is likely the clutch rollers are worn a slipping. You hear the whole thing slipping and then grabbing...BANG! Hopefully the clutch itself is tight.