Virago starters

Hi there,
I have had a Yamaha Virago 920---1982 for some time. The starter on these is famous for clattering and needs to be shimmed now and then to keep it working. Just wondering if the post 1985 starters experienced the same problem, or if they solved it. Other than that I can't complain about the bike. Thanks for any input you folks may have to offer. Dan

yamaha starters

Glad they have had good luck with theirs, and thanks for the reply. But in sunny New York the early 920's were plagued with starters not lining up properly when engaged. They would clatter, grind or disconnect. Many guys thought the starter was at fault and bought new ones only to have the same trouble again. They (yamaha) offer a ring kit to shim the starter, but it needs tweaking now and then. The newer ones don't seem to have the problem so somewhere along the line they fixed it. Except fot this I love the Viragos. I was thinking of buying another used one, but want to get one after the fix. This is not to say all were bad, I'm sure many weren;t and they run strong, I'm glad your friends lucked out.
I alway get in trouble buying Yamahas, and I've had quite a few, but I like the bike. I get in trouble because my Cousin owns the local Harley shop, and they are good bikes, I have no issue with them, I just can't afford to buy the harley clothes, and apparently you are no longer allowed to ride a Harley if you don't have a genuine color coordinated harley ensemble =) Thanks again, Dan

Pockets should be manatory on all shirts. I remember my first cigarette on a bike. I had no shield as I was a young buck back then, and shields were for grandpas. (which, now that I am a grandpa I see the merits or the protective shield) Anyway, I lit up, and within a half mile the tobacco had burn/blown out, the ashes in my face, and most of the paper was still intact. That was my last time. I have since quit altogether, but don't worry, I have no anti-smoking soapbox to stand on. I still hold onto a few vices.
Back to the starter issue. Except for that, I have found the Virago to be an excellent all around bike. Comfortable enough for a reasonably lengthy ride, powerful enough to pull most any hill in top gear if alone, and most with a rider. Reasonable on gas, and mostly reliable. But that grinding/whirring/clanking of the early starters makes you forget the assets and concentrate on the liabilities The newer ones seem to be okay, and the "Star" models as they are now called are good looking rigs, and not palagued with the demon.
Hondas Shadow is a nice alternative, or Harley, or kawasaki-Suzuki-Triumph- BMW-Ducati-Aprilla-etc----Hell, they are all nice bikes, as long as they are running. Dan

I've had 3 Viragos over the years all 1984 or newer 2 700s (one 84 one 85) and one 1000 (86) I had no issues with the starters on any of them. My biggest problem was keeping them from getting stolen. I started riding the Vs in San Diego after I had 3 Harleys taken while I was at sea. Great Bikes, I'd get another 700 if I could find a nice clean one. Love the shaft and would get another 1000 if it wasn't geared the same as the 700. A friend of mine has a 920 in his back yard he'd like me to take but he hasn't got a title and I don't need the hassle.

A friend of mine has a 82 920 and the starter is crap on it. He's had it apart a couple times and had to do some resoldering. It just gave up the ship the other day. I looked on E-Bay for him and found a new starter for $115 including shipping. Not too bad a price. Another friend used to have a 700, and it had starter problems too. Other than that, they are nice bikes.