How do you remove the starter on 1983 Honda Shadow VT500C?

Answer 1

Before you start this it is always good to disconnect the battery. Just in case.

1. The first thing you have to do is remove the exhaust pipe from the rear cylinder. Start by removing the exhaust collector box. There are two allen head bolts on each side below and in front of the passenger pegs. These hold the collector box on. Remove all 4 and loosen both clamps where the header pipes go into the collector box. Spray a lot of WD40 on the ends of the header pipes. If the collector box is loose you should be able to tap on it and drive it back. No need to take off the rear mufflers.

Do not worry about the front exhaust header. Remove the two nuts at the rear pipe flange. You should now be able to remove the rear header. Before it is all over you will have to double nut the lower rear exhaust stud and back it out. The starter will not clear if it is there.

2. Next is the coolant pipe for the front cylinder. Drain the coolant by loosening the front bolt on the bottom side of the water pump. Loosen the radiator cap as it will allow the coolant to drain quicker. Loosen the clamp on the coolant pipe and slide it back on the rubber hose. Remove two pipe support clamp bolts. One is a case bolt and the other (in the rear) is a starter hold down bolt.

Wiggle the pipe. You may need to push the rubber hose away from the back coolant pipe.

3. Remove the other starter support bolt and pull the starter toward the right side of the bike. If you have not removed the lower exhaust stud, you should do it now or the starter will not clear.