I used to watch your videos in the hopes that one day I could work on bikes. Now, years later I'm working on them. Your videos were an inspiration, and it's good to see your still honest and working hard. Cheers.

Glad you showed this, heard so much about this issue but never actually seen it - been scaring me away from early viragos. Good to know it's an easy fix. Heard some people talking about welding something to fix it O.O

You're just my favorite person. I watched this channel years ago. Learned how to clean carbs and how carbs work. Today I bought an xv920 and has the same issue. I search here first and wallah!

Dude, great video man. Seriously. Love the explanation.

Thanks for the video, it really demonstrates how easy this is versus just trying to read an article written 10 years ago.

Thank you! Is like a breath of fresh air!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

The old inertia starters on cars had the same problem. Needed to replace the pinion every two or three years. That interesting about that spring. I would have thought it may not fully retract.

Nice job. Thanks for sharing.

It may just be me but it still sounded a bit on the crunchy side....but pretty much all viragos sound like that.....i personally just flip the gear over and save 80 buck's

Can't wait to see a new video soon!

Greetings from Amsterdam.

thank you very much for the video, I have a virago 750 of 82 and the problem is that the starter sticks every time, could you tell me something about this

Nice little bikes but not a Maxim ! I just can't help myself I like the in line 4's heck from 70's right on through today . The duel overheads are a little bit harder to deal with but you really can't kill em ! Always a good video Max love the info pal ... sure got mine running and running well too ... " still " ;) that little sticky gear shift thing never happened again ??? still don't know what that was all about been over 6 months now if it was going to go it would have by now I've been doing some riding. I hit the Blue ridge parkway this summer thinking if something was a miss I would find it there with the stress of the hills and such... nope no worries !!! BIG THANKS for all the videos got mine running and have kept it going !

I don’t usually chuck parts until I’ve got the machine back together and there are extra bits laying around...lol.

Hey, wondering how the idle gear is doing without the spring so far. Did you ever peak inside the crankcase with the oil filler cap off while starting it to ensure the idle gear resets back off the flywheel?

You can flip the gear instead of replacing it, I believe there is a grove on both sides

so ive done this and watched other viideos wer u can flip the flywhel also to use the new side and still i hear a windign noise borught it into a bike shop spent 1000$ they couldnt figure it out either

Is this the idle gear #2??

Awright mate, just wondered if ditching the spring is a Virago-specific mod? Got a XJ900F starter just starting to grind a little

Hello, would buying a new compression spring resolve this issue as well instead of just removing it? Is the issue a worn out spring. Because me gear teeth look fine and show now sign of wear from grinding or slipping.

If your really hard up for $$ u can flip the bendrixs gear around as the spacing is the same on both sides

@mrmaxstorey where did you pick up your idler gear? A link would be very well appreciated.

Notice u haven't put a video out in a while. Hope all is well! Quick question: If you had to pick one brand of Japanese motorcycle for the best reliability, which one would it be? Thanks

Hello, thank you for your video! What is the gear called that you replaced? I have a ‘83 xv 920 i am working on

hey max you should make another "guess the problem win a prize" video

My ‘93 virago 535 sounds the same. Will this fix work? I attempted to pull off the cover to view the gears, but as usual, two stripped screws are keeping me out. Suggestions on that issue would also be helpful.

I have the same problem on my virago and have a new gear already , haven’t installed it yet. The bike will make the same noise as yours but won’t start. Will replacing this gear make it start? I notice yours still didn’t start

Any issues with the idler gear not retracting, without the spring, after the engine starts? Also, have you noticed any rattling from the idler gear without the spring tension keeping it held back away from the flywheel gear? Thanks.

Love your channel Max! I wish I found your channel earlier when I had a 1982 Suzuki gs750 with some electrical issues that I didnt solved. It ran perfectly fine for like 10-15 min then it just died, just cut off and would not start. So something electrical didnt like to get hot I guess. Any Ideas? This still haunts me 2 years later. Greetings from Sweden!

Higher octane fuel helps it start better from my virago

Make more videos man

could it be possible to machine down the worn surface instead of buying a new gear?

Hey I know this may be a stupid question I'm looking at one it has this problem. Is it the motor oil that you have to drain out or is it something else?

where did you buy the idler gear ?

What is the name of that specific gear you changed.

Mines a 92 and it does this

Would it be a good idea if I just flip the old gear around ?

Where Did You Get The Gear Other that Great Video Thanks.

no need to replace the gear .. flip it around .. back in done good as new

First off I'd like to say is I bought a new gear and tried that 2 times 2 ways. With and without the spring. I know you can't answer my question because it's difficult when both gears got ate up by the flywheel within a few hours. I changed the flywheel before the install and 10 years later my bike is still sitting in the garage with absolutely no success. Why is it eating the gears up within a few hours? Why am I only getting a few good cranks and then back to the same old grind? I'LL WAIT FOR YOUR REPLY...

flip the gear dont replace it