Try to keep this short and to the point.
Just bought a 1997 Pro1 Californian a couple weeks ago. Guy I bought it from had used silicone for a primary gasket and said it needs the clearance a gasket will give it to prevent the jackshaft bolt from hitting the outer primary and spinning loose. I also discovered th starter clutch was bad so last night i replaced it. bike started and the starter sounded great. still havent put gasket in yet for primary. this morning i go to start it and all it does is the spin noise with no engagement, even if i put in gear and rock forward and backward hoping to get something to catch to engage starter. My thoughts are that this jackshaft bolt came loose again and is preventing the starter gear from travelling out enough to engage ring gear.

Here is the question I have: Is a gasket thats only .03-.06 thick really going to prevent that bolt from bumping the outer primary? Shouldnt there be something else that would stop it short of rubbing, such as a thrust bearing of sorts? or do i just put hight strength loctite on the bolt and hope it doesnt work loose? loctite seems bad to me but im at a loss.

I planned a 1500 or so mile trip for memorial day weekend to deadwood SD and would like a week or two to ride the new scoot and put some faith in it before i make a long trip like that.

 

I'd be leery of anything "fixed" with silicone. it was made with a gasket, use a gasket.

my 88 has a brass thrust washer ...that falls off every time i pull the primary cover.

the starter not engaging sounds like a bad(or stuck) solenoid, maybe give it a tap with a persuader while cranking...

Good Luck!!

 

Sounds like either the bolt came loose, the spring is not in place or it is binding up somewhere. Does the inner primary have the dowel pins to align the outer primary cover?? Of course it is possible that a new starter could be defective, it happens every now and then.