Kickstarter bolt keeps loosening

[LAWMAN]

I noticed on a ride yesterday that the bolt that secures the starter on my '07 300E comes loose every few minutes, even when tightened securely. I'll put loc-tite & safety wire on it, but thought I'd inquire: Is this a common, known problem or just a fluke w/mine?

thanks

 

[Bandit9]

Never had that issue.

 

[barkeater]

That's an issue that goes waaaaay back.

When I was a dealer, we lost two levers on long rides on our 2001 demo bikes. After that, every bike I set up got a shot of loctite. (Safety wire would be better, but more time consuming.) Never got a report from customers that one fell off - after I started applying the loctite.

Nothing worse than killing the bike in a mud hole, reaching down to kick her over, and getting a handfull of air - or that long push to the next bump-start opportunity.

At least you can steal a replacement off your buddies YZ when he's not looking.

 

[Boomhauer]

Yep blue loctite works for me & my kicker.

 

[LAWMAN]

thank ya, boys! I looked at it again, looks like it will be tough to secure w/safety wire, so I'll goop it up w/loc-tite. I lost a starter once on an '82 KTM, in the mud, & yes, it made for a long day....

 

[GMP]

The starter is a rather tight fit on the splines, as it bottoms on a slight taper. It can be a bitch to get off. While the bike is new, pull it off with a small gear puller and antiseize the splines good. Clean the threads in the end of the shaft with a tap and contact cleaner and reinstall with loctite. The '07 starter is pretty good, but still not sealed. I'm sure it will get sloppy if the knuckle is not cleaned and greased regularly. A YZ starter goes right on and has an o-ring seal.

 

[LAWMAN]

thanks for the advice, Glenn, I will do that this w/e.

 

[LAWMAN]

so I did a sloppy ride w/o greasing the pivot & yesterday, that sucker locked up on me. grrrrrr. I don't have time for constant maintenance of the kick starter. can someone tell me which YZ starter does the trick? any particular model or year?
thanks

LAWMAN

 

[GMP]

5NX-15620-00

In a pinch you can also use a KTM starter, but the fit on the splines is a little looser and you need a spacer or stack of 17mm ID shims behind it to torque down on. Yamaha part is a bettter way.

 

[LAWMAN]

thanks, Glann, I will find 1 of those.

 

[LAWMAN]

thanks for the advice, Glenn, I got my Yam starter yesterday & it popped right on. it's a nice upgrade.