Unlike automotive starters with a throw-out solenoid mechanisms to engage and disengage the starter from the engine, motorcycle starters by design live constantly engaged with the engine. This being the case, there needs to be a mechanism that can engage the starter with the engine when the engine needs to be started and disengage once the engine is running under its own power. Enter the Starter Clutch!
The starter clutch is the component that does exactly that: spin the crankshaft when the rider presses the starter button and slip once the engine starts running. This video goes over how the starter clutch manages to engage and disengage with minimum moving parts!
The magic can be attributed to the design of the slots and spring loaded rollers that live inside the starter clutch. Watch the video to see how that happens. And subscribe to fixpaana for more!
Starter clutches are used on almost all motorcycles with electric starters and therefore the information shared here apply to all motorcycles. The motorcycle used in this demonstration is the 1979 Honda CB750.
