Starter motor spinning pistons not turning on a xs500 78 model can u advise me on wot could be the problem. Kick starts but can here something click or move when playing with kick start. Once bike is started it is fine but dont want to ride it and cause more problems. many thanks Bob

Well, I can't see anything from here? Make sure battery has a full charge and connections all good. Double check your work? You need to check if starter motor drive gear is engaging the flywheel? Some makes and models have a flywheel cover that you can remove and take a look, some don't. Did you check flywheel teeth with starter removed?
Sometimes you can remove starter motor, lay it on the ground, hook up jumper cables properly from starter motor to charged battery, at the least, the starter motor should kick out the drive gear and spin. Just my opinion.

I need year--make--model?
Can you remove flywheel cover, where applicable, maybe you can see if starter motor is kicking out drive-gear to engage flywheel? Check the flywheel teeth.
As far as starter testing, you can usually take the starter motor off, lay it on the ground, hook up jumper cables properly from charged battery to starter motor, at the least, it should kick out the drive gear and spin. I have to talk in generalities because I don't know which vehicle you have?

I need to know year--make--model?
Sometimes you can take starter motor off, lay in on the ground, hook up jumper cables properly from starter motor to battery, at the least, it should kick out drive gear and spin. When cables are removed the drive gear should retract. Could be something wrong with starter? It could be hung-up on flywheel for some reason? Could be a problem with ignition switch?
Usually two voltage circuits to starter motor, one comes from battery, hot all the time. The other circuit goes hot with key in the start position. The start position should be spring loaded, when you release the key, it should spring back to run position, so that circuit, at starter motor, is no longer hot.

Hey Chris,

I need more technical info.

Did you line up ALL the timing/valve/cam/piston location marks when you assembled the engine?? A new head..?? - new valves, cam. ..?? Piston installed in the correct direction, Does the carb float bowl have gas in it..? (the drain screw is in the very bottom- loosen it and gas should flow out freely. What do you mean by "kick over".. does it have a kick starter? ..or will the motor not turn over with the kick starter? Please tell me more. Thanks

There maybe a problem with starter motor? Some of the national brand auto stores will test starter for you. Of course, you have to take it off and take it to them.


You could take the starter off, lay it on the ground, Hook up jumper cables properly from starter to battery. The starter should kick-out the drive gear and spin. If starter drive gear kicks out and in, something is wrong. Anymore I replace starter solenoid and starter motor as an assembly.

It wouldn't hurt anything to check flywheel teeth while your at it.

Not a very clear question so I will try to help... It sounds like you replaced your piston and rings. Now if I understand the engine will not kick over because the kick start lever is stuck at the top position OR it is stuck in the bottom of the kick? If at the top;

Remove the spark plug so you will not have to deal with the compression confusing the issue.

First, with bike in neutral does the engine turn over easily when you put a socket onto the bolt at the end of the crank shaft?

If the crankshaft turns over easily then there is a problem in the transmission. If not then;
- Your piston is stuck because it is to big or rings were not installed correctly. Ring gap may be an issue, or you may not have used assembly lube on the wrist pin etc. etc. If the engine does not spin easily R&R the piston. There can also be something like a socket or old part that fell into the crankcase at some point.

I suppose that the clutches may be sticking to the pressure plates if the bike was apart for a period of time too. R&R the clutch pack to inspect. Before you remove the clutch pack it may be a reasonable idea to loosen the bolts that apply pressure to the clutch springs to see if that loosens the plates.

If you do remove the clutch pack make sure the bike is in neutral so you can grab the output shaft and spin it by hand. It should be easy to spin the transmission once the clutch is removed. Since you would need to R&R the clutch to split the case it is a good idea to check that it is not a problem in the transmission.

If it does turn easily then put the bike on a center stand so the rear wheel is off the ground. Put it in first gear and try again... If the crankshaft will not spin via end bolt then something is in the bottom end or transmission.

If the engine spins via crankshaft end bolt then the kick start lever has a problem and splitting the crankcase is the next step. Comment below with any new info and I will try to get back to you.

Need more info so we can look up wiring diagram? Dodge is the make, what is year and model? Sometimes when battery voltage is lost, it can cause problems?
If starter motor won't crank the engine, check starter motor wiring circuits. Any testing at starter motor make sure tranny is in park or neutral and parking brake is set. I haven't checked your security system info.
If you think the problem is the starter motor, usually you can take it off, lay it on the ground, hook up jumper cables properly from starter motor to good battery, at the least, it should kick out starter drive gear and spin.

Does your bike have the decompression lever? If so this could be what is jamming up causing your problems.
Otherwise what often happens is that the kick starter cogs don't mesh correctly, seeing as how you have taken the kick starter apart and put it back again and now no probs I would expect that to be your problem.
It might be worth checking your kick starter for wear, or the return spring to see if it isn't broken.

check and see if you can turn over by hand turning it if not the motor has something broke inside ( like piston shaft) good luck