I've got a '62 Panhead motor that has developed a grinding noise AFTER the ignition switch is turned off. It only does it about half the time but it sounds awful. It almost sounds like a ratchet going backwards. If I kick the kickstart, it stops.
Any one else ever experience this? Any Ideas?
Thanks in advace for any help.

 

Sounds like the bushing is bad on your kick gear that spins on the main shaft. Or the kick cover bushings are bad or the cover is cracked. All this can be checked by pulling the kick cover.

 

Thanks for suggestion 46u. What would you expect to find upon removing the cover? Would the mainshaft continue to spin after the ignition is shut off?

 

It could for a short time. I am mostly going by you say you can push down on the kicker and it stops. There are 3 kick gears in the cover. One that goes on the kick shaft the kick arm is on, one on the end of the main shaft that has a nut holing it fixed to the main shaft then one on the main shaft that has a bushing and floats. When you push down on the kicker there is a plate on the back of the gear on the kick shaft that lets the gear with the bushing engage with the one fixed on the main shaft. If the one that has a bushing the bushing gets worn it will let it try to engage with the fixed gear on the main shaft. Just for the heck of it crank it up and push and pull out on the kicker arm and see if you hear the noise while it is running. Do not push down on the kicker just push in and out on it. Keep in mind when you do not have the bike in front of you figuring out a problem is MUCH harder. When I started riding Harley s Pan heads have only been discontinued for 5 years and the shovel was the new kid on the block. If I can help let me know.

 

Hey 46u, thanks for your time. I really appreciate it. I know that it's hard to troubleshoot something from what someone else is describing. I'll play around with it and see if I can get it to make the noise while it's running.
I've got an old service manual that has an expoded view of the whole assembly so I can see what you're describing.
When I get some time, I'll pull it off to see if the starter clutch is worn.
Thanks again for your help.