Starter or Clutch?

[BigM35]

so I bought an 83 gl1100 Aspencade for 400$. The guy said it needed a new battery and starter. With a new battery in it the starter will freely spin and very intermittently catch. Sounds like a saw or something. Sometime it won't catch until the starer slows down. Is this a starter or Sprag clutch? Can I run diesel or seafoam to clear it up?

[WingAdmin]

so I bought an 83 gl1100 Aspencade for 400$. The guy said it needed a new battery and starter. With a new battery in it the starter will freely spin and very intermittently catch. Sounds like a saw or something. Sometime it won't catch until the starer slows down. Is this a starter or Sprag clutch? Can I run diesel or seafoam to clear it up?

It's probably a sprag clutch - if it catches intermittently, it's most likely sprag clutch. If it never catches at all, it could be the starter itself (most likely the planetary gears).

If you can get it started, then yes, a dose of Seafoam in the crankcase for a hundred miles or so will often clean up the sludge in the sprags that keep it from catching.

[BigM35]

Its i very intermittently starting / catching