I have a 2018 zforce 500, was making a clunking noise when starting but would start, now starter is spinning but will not engage.what would be the likely cause.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I have a 2018 zforce 500, was making a clunking noise when starting but would start, now starter is spinning but will not engage.what would be the likely cause.

Most likely, because of the clunking you heard before when cranking would be broken starter drive gear teeth and right now it's landed on those broken teeth. Try turning the engine a 1/4 or more turn then try the starter. If t engages...it's broken teeth. That clunking you heard was the drive gear coming across one broken tooth..which bangs hard on the next tooth and probably finally broke it off. Which one? Can't say. You will have to pull the cover to see. If you said it was squealing before it stopped spinning I would say the oneway clutch is gone...like so many others have, but the clunking says something else unless the sprag is just broken.

I have the starter off it seems good no bad teeth ,also I can see the gear that the starter comes in contact with and it looks good but will spin freely in both directions does that give any indication of the problem?

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I have the starter off it seems good no bad teeth ,also I can see the gear that the starter comes in contact with and it looks good but will spin freely in both directions does that give any indication of the problem?

8 out of 10 times broken teeth are on the #5 gear in this pic. And if it were rotating and the oneway clutch was working, the part inside #6, it would only turn ....one way

so with the starter off should the gear #8 spin freely in both directions or is it in contact with gear #5 all the time?

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

so with the starter off should the gear #8 spin freely in both directions or is it in contact with gear #5 all the time?

It's in contact with #5 at all times Connection is made or broken between the drive gears through the oneway. Therefor ir #8 spins both ways, either is is missing teeth somewhere...or the sprag (oneway) have come apart. You must take it apart to know. Post what you find...and take pics. It will help others.

ok thanks for the info was not sure how that type of starter worked ,will take the cover of and try to see what is going on in there. probably would have been better if the starter was bad

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

ok thanks for the info was not sure how that type of starter worked ,will take the cover of and try to see what is going on in there. probably would have been better if the starter was bad

Easier for sure.

ok thanks for the info was not sure how that type of starter worked ,will take the cover of and try to see what is going on in there. probably would have been better if the starter was bad

Easier for sure.

Did he ever find out what the problem was, because I'm having the same problem. Gear 5 spins freely one way and not the other, until I rotate it enough and find a spot where it rotates the other way. On a 2019 z1000.

Have same issue:/
If I want to see what's broken I have to open left side of motor cover? Correct?

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

Have same issue:/
If I want to see what's broken I have to open left side of motor cover? Correct?

Whatever side the starter drive gears and oneway are on..yes. Same side as the stator usually.