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a quick update for anyone thats interested.
bike sounded like a bag of loose spanners at idle, (assumed to be part of v-twin ishness )
and would not start every now and then,
usually started after a night on the optimate, then eventually would not start at all, but engine sounded really awful when cranking.
replaced solenoid, still no go - booo
took cover off and found the sprag housing 3x8mm bolts had come undone
did them up, still no start - booo
ordered and fitted new sprag bearing and bearing housing,
starts and sounds like new, - hooray
cost approx £200 all in - booo
I suspect, that all it needed was the spring around the bearing replaced, it was really loose
but I had ordered the bits in by then,
cheers SkinnyP

Apart from the £200, a very happy ending

Result, count yourself lucky it was only 200 quid and the sprag didn't munch other parts.

how easy is it to check these 3 bolts ?

Okay heres my sprag (sorry a bit picture heavy) and the result from the flywheel bolt shearing off.

checking the 3 x 8mm bolts, aint hard, it means left hand side fairng off and moving the oil tank out of the way, unbolting the engine case, they are inside the fly wheel,
so you may need a gasket, not worth it unless you really suspect something is going on in there,
In my case, it sounded SOOOO painful when cranking,
btw the first picture from kiwi_rsvr shows the spring in question really clearly,
if anyone can source these, ? might be worth a go.
SkinnyP

I would'nt recomend repairing the spring (although it has been done), I tried by cutting 30mm out of one which made it nice and tight but it seems once stretched they will stretch even quicker.