Hey i got a 98 RK... And when i press the starter button it sometimes engages and some times spins freely and some times spins freely and catches and and makes a god aweful noise......
And i'm fixin to go off on a ride this weekend and i don't want to get stranded!!!
ANY IDEAS ON WHAT IT COULD BE??????????

 

Sounds like either a bad starter clutch or a broken tooth on the starter drive. My $$$ is on the starter clutch. My old RG would munch a couple starter clutches a year..... That's why I will NEVER buiild another bike with high compression.

Either the starter clutch or the drive gear can be replaced w/o replacing the starter. The starter clutch is ~$90 at a dealership. If you pull the primary cover and inspect the ring and pinion gears and do not see any missing teeth.... Get yourself the starter clutch, pull the starter and replace the starter clutch. It's essentially a sprag gear assembly that allows the pinion (or drive) gear to trun the engine over when it turns one direction, yet free spin when the engine starts and begins "pushing" the gear in the opposite direction - until the starter dis-engauges.

 

Man i really appreciate the help......Thanks alot

 

the last time i bought a starter drive i went to a starter /alternater repair shop. $20 was what i paid. the only thing different about the drive was the box it came in.

 

is it something that will all the sudden just stop working or will it take a while to slowly wear out??????

 

It gets worse until it just quits. Don't wait. Fix it asap to avoid the noise of constant spinning and no starting.