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This article is obviuously biased towards the Ducati Desmoquattro engine, but it is applicable to any bike using a sprag starter mechanism (The majority of large capacity V-twins).
The sprag clutch in the early Desmoquattros is the same unit as employed in the BMW GS650 (possibly others), KTMs and Aprilias.
Here is a description of a sprag clutch, how it works, and how to shorten the spring on one should you need to.
Symptoms: You press the starter button, you hear the starter whirr, but it does not engage the motor.
The problem occurs when the detent spring used to hold the sprags in their basket weakens or breaks. Unfortunately, the OEM spring is very weak, and causes this common problem.
The first step is to drain your fluids.
![]()
![]()
Then remove the clutch cover, pressure plate and clutch plates.
Once you have removed the clutch cover, locate and remove your clutch springs, I have 4, you'll probably have 6.
![]()
Then slide off your pressure plate.
![]()
To help in the removal of the cluth plates, I have made up a couple of picks that I can use to hook the plates out with.
![]()
![]()
I like to place everything in the order that it is going back on.
i.e. left to right, face down.
![]()
Once that is all out, install your clutch holding tool.
I made this from some old clutch plates. If you make one, use high tensile bolts, and drill and bolt the handle too, don't weld it. If you don't you will shear the bolts or tear the plates were the weld attaches.
Note the tape to prevent scratching.
Some people use a penny between the gears to hold the motor whilst you undo the flywheel nut.
I don't.
![]()
Now undo the ancilliary attachments on the generator cover.
You need to remove the 3 coolant hoses, the clutch slave cylinder, the gear shift and undo the 2 crank angle sensor connectors.
Mark them so they go back on the same way.
![]()
Some people recommend a puller to remove the case, but a few taps with a hammer (especially behind the waterpump cover/spiggot) and it should pull off relatively easily.
![]()
![]()
Get a 30mm sprocket and a breaker bar whilst getting someone to hold the clutch tool.
These nuts are on tight, so they can take a bit of effort to get off.
![]()
You shouldn't need a puller to get the flywheel and generator off, I have never needed one.
Once again, lay everything out the way it came off.
On my bike, the "ducati" on the magnet faces towards the motor, and the washer is convex.
![]()
Around the back of the flywheel, you will find a big circlip.
Remove it.
![]()
You should then be able to remove your sprag clutch.
On mine, the spring had lunched itself and was preventing me from pulling the sprag out. As I had a replacement spring, I ripped it out and then the sprag clutch just slid out.
![]()
As you can see, spring has had it.
![]()
Here is a CR19778 seal from SKF bearings.
Luckily, it uses a perfectly sized spring for a Ducati sprag clutch. I decided against shortening the spring as the wire gauge is a lot heavier than the OEM spring, and therefore will hopefuly stretch less.
At this stage, you can either replace your sprag, replace the spring, or shorten it as in the link above.
![]()
I removed the spring, and then wrapped the sprag clutch in masking tape to stop all the sprags falling out, I then cut a slot in the paper where the grooves in the sprags are, and replaced the spring, making sure the spring was sat way down in the grooves, and all the sprags are seated correctly.
![]()
![]()
/snip (24 images)
The sprag clutch in the early Desmoquattros is the same unit as employed in the BMW GS650 (possibly others), KTMs and Aprilias.
Here is a description of a sprag clutch, how it works, and how to shorten the spring on one should you need to.
Symptoms: You press the starter button, you hear the starter whirr, but it does not engage the motor.
The problem occurs when the detent spring used to hold the sprags in their basket weakens or breaks. Unfortunately, the OEM spring is very weak, and causes this common problem.
The first step is to drain your fluids.
Then remove the clutch cover, pressure plate and clutch plates.
Once you have removed the clutch cover, locate and remove your clutch springs, I have 4, you'll probably have 6.
Then slide off your pressure plate.
To help in the removal of the cluth plates, I have made up a couple of picks that I can use to hook the plates out with.
I like to place everything in the order that it is going back on.
i.e. left to right, face down.
Once that is all out, install your clutch holding tool.
I made this from some old clutch plates. If you make one, use high tensile bolts, and drill and bolt the handle too, don't weld it. If you don't you will shear the bolts or tear the plates were the weld attaches.
Note the tape to prevent scratching.
Some people use a penny between the gears to hold the motor whilst you undo the flywheel nut.
I don't.
Now undo the ancilliary attachments on the generator cover.
You need to remove the 3 coolant hoses, the clutch slave cylinder, the gear shift and undo the 2 crank angle sensor connectors.
Mark them so they go back on the same way.
Some people recommend a puller to remove the case, but a few taps with a hammer (especially behind the waterpump cover/spiggot) and it should pull off relatively easily.
Get a 30mm sprocket and a breaker bar whilst getting someone to hold the clutch tool.
These nuts are on tight, so they can take a bit of effort to get off.
You shouldn't need a puller to get the flywheel and generator off, I have never needed one.
Once again, lay everything out the way it came off.
On my bike, the "ducati" on the magnet faces towards the motor, and the washer is convex.
Around the back of the flywheel, you will find a big circlip.
Remove it.
You should then be able to remove your sprag clutch.
On mine, the spring had lunched itself and was preventing me from pulling the sprag out. As I had a replacement spring, I ripped it out and then the sprag clutch just slid out.
As you can see, spring has had it.
Here is a CR19778 seal from SKF bearings.
Luckily, it uses a perfectly sized spring for a Ducati sprag clutch. I decided against shortening the spring as the wire gauge is a lot heavier than the OEM spring, and therefore will hopefuly stretch less.
At this stage, you can either replace your sprag, replace the spring, or shorten it as in the link above.
I removed the spring, and then wrapped the sprag clutch in masking tape to stop all the sprags falling out, I then cut a slot in the paper where the grooves in the sprags are, and replaced the spring, making sure the spring was sat way down in the grooves, and all the sprags are seated correctly.
/snip (24 images)
