Triumphrat

andre12a

Hi

I am a bit stuck with this one.
Recently I replaced the starter motor along with several other repairs (new igniter, solenoid, headlight). When I started the bike there was a knocking rattling noise that hadn't been there before. I have tracked it down to the vicinity of the clutch cover. After reading about the loose alternator through bolt issue I removed the alternator but that isn't the problem. I took the new starter motor out as well. Then I found what seems to be a lot of end play on the sprag clutch gear that the stater motor drive engages. It knocks against something when I push it forward (away from the starter motor side). I am thinking it might be the problem.
Has anyone had issue with this or is that amount of end play acceptable? If this is the fault, I am at a loss to understand why it would only be doing this after I replaced the starter motor.
Next question is how do I access the sprag clutch? I scanned the Haynes manual but I couldn't find anything about it.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
andre12a

hawk#1

Hi andre12a i not had this prob b4 on my own bike but you asked how you access the sprag clutch am afraid thats a total engine strip down and crankcase split unless you have an early t/bird as in 1995 model i belive that has an access panel which i belive with some dificulty can be changed via that panel but from what you describe i really dont think this is your promblem there lots of links on here about sprag clutch failure that would describe in more detail the symptoms

andre12a

Thanks Hawk.
This one seems to have everyone stumped. Out of 60 views you have been the only reply.
I don't relish the thought of splitting the bike on the hunch it might be the sprag. It appears from the other posts that you suggest reading that a sprag problem has different symptoms to what I am experiencing. I still don't know if the endplay on the sprag gear is acceptable. I'll do some more searching on the net and see what I can find.
By the way the bike is a 2001 T'Bird.

hawk#1

hi again andre sry you never had much feed back on this one as far as i can remb the syptoms of sprag fail is a loud clunking noise from the starter motor but this is only heard when trying to start the bike am sure somone else will come in on this am wondering if u have a broken clutch spring or plate and this is causing the noise just my thought sry i cant help you further ive never seen this prob whilst ive been on this site

Jodel

I'm no mechanical guru, but it doesn't sound like the sprag. Engine noises are notoriously difficult to diagnose remotely - one person's loud rattle is someone else's normal running!

On that side of the engine, the cam chain can make a fair old noise if it is worn or if the tensioner is on the way out. The carbs being out of balance can also make one of these engines sound a bit rough. Perhaps wear on the clutch basket? Sorry can't be of more help, but hope you get things sorted out.

flattrack42

Andre12a....
I had the same rattling on my '96 Trophy 900. It started fine but rattled like crazy. The mechanic at the Tri dealer where I was in sales said I had a "broken" bolt on the alternator. Now, I don't know how the bike could start reliably and sound like it did with a broken bolt. Maybe he meant 'loose'. He never asked me to come to the shop to see the problem, so I can't say absolutely what he meant.
I had the alternator off some years later to replace the o'ring, but did not bother investigating the earlier "broken bolt" issue.

denny

search here for alternator rattle. It's been written about many many times.

Also in the Urban Sports forums. It was a problem on several T3 models before 1998.
And s few after that.

__________________
Cheers,Denny

paradigm

thanks for the heads up denny. was about to post about it also.