I do have this problem  also on my 85 weekender ...on the same occasions as
you have mentionned: heat and overheat of the starter...that gets in a
neutral state... and the day I will get really mad about it,  I will get it
fixed good for less than a 100.$cdn. or less if you can do it yourself...
you install a 40 A, 4 pin relay between the key switch and the starter, and
you will never have this problem again...  but it seems that  i  still  like
to fight my starter when it does this to me,   and  I win all the
time...especially  when I am way out in the bush... a member once said it
was dangerous , maybe...  I would like a good reason ?  I simply take a
srewdriver, go underneath to the starter, make a contact with the big "nut"
and the body of  the starter and you are off,  as in the picture "out of
africa "...but the day I will be wearing a tuxedo, I am sure I will get it
fixed good, if my wife does not want to go underneath, since I showed her
and she knows how  !!!

pierre a. lachance
lac beauport, quebec,
canada
zephyr 85 weekender
green apple beetle 00