Starter did not disengage.

[GolfVenture]

Rode my 89 VR for an hour this morning then let it sit for an hour.

Started it up again to to ride and it started right up but made a sawing or hising sound.

I hit the stop button to kill the engine and it stopped.

Started it up again and made the same noise.

I listened for a couple seconds and decided that it is the starter that is not disengaging. Shut if off and started it up and this time the noise went away.

 

My VR has 25,500 miles on it and only 1500 miles is mine. The 1st 24,000 was from South Lake Tahoe and in the winter months it was a garaged.

And at my home it is also garaged.

 

Any suggestions of what to check or to clean?

[Flyinfool]

A bad starter clutch can do this, Mine did on my 88. But on my 88 it also had the hammering noise while cranking which is the normal failure mode of the starter clutch.

[GolfVenture]

I've been riding my VR about once a week and so when after I choke it and the hit the starter it starts on the very first crank with no noise. It does not crank a few times then start it starts on the 1st crank and I do not hear any noise.

 

I was thinking that the starter button may have gotten stuck. Is that possible?

[Snaggletooth]

Got a question that might indicate if the starter switch is the problem.

 

When the starter button is pressed it cuts out the head light. Is the headlight coming back on when you are hearing this noise?

 

And yes, the switches can get stuck.

[GolfVenture]

I'll check the next time it occurs.

[Flyinfool]

Whatever you do, do not rev the engine at all while the starter is still engaged.

[bongobobny]

Mine did that once too, stuck switch. Sprayed a little siliconen spray on the start switch and it never did it again. Sure was a neat feature, turn the key and the bike started automatically...