I have an 82 virago 750 with starter problems. The starter is brand new. When starting warm engine there is a gear clash noise. When starting cold the starter doesn't even engage all the time it just spins. I've heard that theese bike all have starting problems since they were new. I've also been told that there is nothing that I can do about it. I find it hard to believe that theese bikes sold new in 82 if they were makeing all this noise upon starting. Has anyone else heard of this problem or the fact that it is not fixable? Does any one have any tips to possibly correct it or at least make it aliitle more reliabe to start? thanks.  

I had a Virago 750 back in the 80's that had a sorry
starting system. I wasn't able to resolve my issues so I sold the bike and bought a Vulcan 800 to replace it.
Yamaha should have recalled all of those models and fixed their sorry engineering problems with the starting systems...  

It's funny you say that because I was recently thinking of selling it and buying one of the new Kawasaki 900s. I'm tired of fixing the yamaha and I hear that Kawasakis are great bikes.  

I have one of these 1982 Virago's as well, I had my starter pinned.The starter has clutch contained within and there is a ring gear that sometimes slips in the housing. a hole was drilled in the nose end through the casing and about 1/16" into the ring gear,The hold in the housing is threaded and  the screw goes locks the ring gear from turning! I had it done by a dealer many years ago! You might not want to try this yourself unless you understand what you are doing and assume any risk  

Just bought a 82 virago 750 that has sat for 5 years.  Cleaned the carbs, gas tank and made sure all tubes are okay.

It is very difficult to start but it eventually does and now I am getting gas in the oil after riding it for about an hour.  

Do I need to replace the rings or ?

Thanks  

http://www.wecandobetter.com/dnload/Yamaha_Virago_1100_Starter_Project_MPEG1.mpg  

Just this last weekend I tore into my 1982 750 Virago to fix this very problem. Well to make a long story shorter, I removed the second gear. (the one that has the clip on it that engages into the flywheel) and put it into a lathe at work and cleaned up the gear teeth edges that were obviously worn down and rounded from years of the previous owners mashing the starter gear into it. That box of rocks sound was horrible. Now it's as smooth as can be. So the gear teeth was my problem. Clean straight edges not rounded. I just re-cut them at the same angle they were and just enough to fully clean them up. Mine even had a damaged section on the black plastic inner ring pressed into the gear that has the smaller helical cut gear pressed into it. About 1/3 of the mating surface was gone and it still works great. Hope this helps some.  

mhofstetter:
Just bought a 82 virago 750 that has sat for 5 years.  Cleaned the carbs, gas tank and made sure all tubes are okay.

It is very difficult to start but it eventually does and now I am getting gas in the oil after riding it for about an hour.  

Do I need to replace the rings or ?

Thanks

I had bought an 82 Virago 750 about 3 months ago that had set about a year. I did the same routine, and rode it around the neighborhood for about a month. No problems. The day I decided to take it to work (about 30 miles) it ran fine-no problems. When it came time to return home, it would not start. Found out the oil was full of gas too. I now have the engine apart, and the only thing I have found is the rings were not put in properly. The gaps all lined up on 1 cylinder. However, I have not confirmed this was the problem.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks  

HI; I would look at the carbs. It sounds like the needle and seat. When a carb sets for a year or so the fuel gets bad. This leaves a varnish on the inside of the carb. Then the float and needle and seat start to stick open. That is why it is hard to start   flooded with fuel. clean the plugs and carbs. You will have to remove the carbs to repair. It's not that hard. Then ride and have fun... scruffy..