The starter reduction gear on a Honda CX500, GL500, CX650 or GL650 has two washers next to it – and it’s easy to forget where they went once you take them off. Here’s how to put it all back together. First, make sure that the starter gear reduction shaft is in place (part number 28106-415-000, eBay – except for the CX650 Turbo, where it’s 28106-ME7-000) – then place one washer (same for all models, 90451-708-000, eBay) on it:
Next, grab the starter motor reduction gear (28102-415-000, eBay) or 28102-415-010 (eBay) – the side below faces towards the cylinder block:
Check that it spins freely – if you forget to install the washer it is likely that it will collide with the block and not rotate freely – here’s a photo of it colliding with the block when the washer is not installed:
Another potential consequence of not installing them is that the gears may come out of alignment and not be able to mesh any more, resulting in the starter spinning nothing useful. You also don’t want to double them up – your motor won’t crank (via Cobram). Next, the other washer (same for all models – 90451-708-000 again):
All done! Now make sure that that last washer doesn’t get knocked off during the reinstallation process of everything else around it.