Does anyone have any advice on changing a crankcase gasket on the left side of the bike? Also, starter solenoid makes clicking noise and starter does not engage? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

Jeephunter95,

Welcome to the forums.

The clicking noise on the starter selinoid can be cuased by a couple of things. Starting with the cheapest things first. Clean all your connections from the battery to the starter and coat them with dielectric grease. If problem still occurs remove your battery and check how much juice your battery has with a volt meter. Then charge your battery for 24hrs on a 2amp trickle charge. Remove the battery charger and check amount of juice with voltmeter again. Let the battery sit for about 6-12 hours and check juice again with voltmeter. Compare your 3 voltmeter readings. The voltage in the battery should not drop much after charging. This ensures the battery is holding a charge. This is about all you can do for "free".

Now if your battery does not hold a charge (needs at least 11volts prefferably 12.5 ish) the selinoid will click. To replace the battery take the measurements (length/width/height) off your old one and go to Wal-mart a new one is around $30.

If a new battery does not fix the problem (I have had to replace mine about every 3 years) replace the selinoid. Dealer will probably order the part and it takes about 7-10days. Last one I replaced cost $68.

Now the crank case gasket? There is a gasket to access what the manual calls the "left side components" and the "right side components" I think one allows access to the clutch (auto or a manual tranny) and the other allows access to the stator assembly. These can both be changed with the engine in the machine.

There is another gasket that divides the crankcase into two halves. It is called splitting the crankcase. To change this gasket (actually it is a form-a-gasket material in a tube) the engine must be removed from the machine and the entire top end (cylinder head and the can) removed along with their gaskets and to "split the case". This is very involved procedure and one I would not reccomend unless you have done it before and or have a shop manual for your machine.

I myself just added a 98 AC 454 to my garage. Paid $200 for it. Guy said it did not run and sold it for parts. He had put diesel in it and the engine stopped running. I took the carb apart and cleaned it and drained the fuel tank. Runs like a champ. Now it just needs some cosmetic work. It has been added to my winter project list after it is used for hunting later this fall.

SJ