Q: What is the deal with the clutch lever and starting a bike?

 My son's 1997 Suzuki Maruader requires you hold in the clutch lever to
start it. OK, so you hold it on, but...

I've been babysitting my ex-Kawasaki '82 KZ440 all summer for a local
college student, taking it out for a ride once per week to keep it in
shape. It's difficult to start if you let it sit for days. I hadn't
started it in a few days, so today I held the clutch lever in just to
see if it made a dif. It started on the first click.

Coincidence?

Greg

 oasysco wrote:

So, it must have a clutch safety interlock switch to keep you from falling
over after starting the engine when the transmission is in gear.

If the Kawasaki doesn't have a clutch safety interlock switch, it's a
coincidence.

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 wrote:

Even when it's in neutral you have to pull the clutch in else it won't
start; then agian, we've not repeatedyl tried without doing it.

 oasysco wrote:


Parts diagrams don't show a clutch interlock switch.

Does the starter crank the engine real slow?

That would be caused by a weak battery or worn out starter brushes.

If the starter sounds like it's turning, but the engine doesn't crank, that
can be caused by the rollers in the starter clutch slipping or by the
alternator rotor bolt loosening up and allowing the starter to spin the
alternator, but the rotor slips on the end of the crankshaft.

http://houseofmotorcycles.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/ShowSchematic.aspx?deptId31852&machineId957


92122: ROLLER

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http://www.motorcyclekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/bike/200708/1

 wrote:

If the engine oil is cold, and especially if it is a heavy, non-
synthetic oil like 20w-50, squeezing the clutch while running the
starter motor might indeed make it easier and quicker starting than
not squeezing the clutch.