Looks like I need a starter. Twice in the last week I had to tap on mine with a wrench to get her to turn over. Before I order the starter, is there any other parts required? Gaskets? Anything?
I never had to change the starter so I am going in blind.
Any advice would be a huge help. Anyone know how long this job takes?
THANKS!

 

gotta take the primary cover off. so primary cover gasket. Takes about a 1/2 hour or so.

 

Parts and service manuals. There's no need to go in blind.

 

Thanks so far,

I didnt know about the primary cover!
I do have a service manual, lots of tools, and a j+s jack. I should be good. I am at work and havent looked at the manual yet. I just need to beat on the starter so I can get home. I found a great price on a starter, but didnt want to order it without checking in here first.

THANKS!

 

When you get home and the bike cools down, disconnect the negative cable on the battery and try this. Take the solenoid cover off the starter with the bike on the kickstand. There's a plunger in there, pull it out. Look at the brass face of that plunger and see if there's any corrosion on it. If it is, take a file and clean it up. Reinstall and see if this helped. That could be the only thing wrong with it.

 

+1 also check the electrical connections. Any corrosion inside or out can have the same symptom. Oh yeah. make SURE you take the neg cable off the battery....that bitch will try to start while you are working on it and absolutely scare the f**k out of you. Don't ask how I know this.

 

Excellent Advice!!! Will do.
This might be the case since its very inconsistant. I just went outside to try to start it and she fired right up.
Thanks

 

Around 30 years ago I was travelling in British Columbia w/ my old Dodge truck, towing a little 18' Airstream trailer. Many miles past nowhere, my starter went out. Along came a couple of friendly Canadians in a pickup. When I told them what happened, one fetched a hammer from his truck, slid under mine, and gave my starter a few good solid whacks. I thought to myself: WTF? He said: "OK, try to start it." Of course, it started immediately!!! I saw that a bunch of brass-colored filings had fallen to the ground directly under the starter. W/o shutting it off, I found a used starter @ a wrecking yard, and was on my way, once more. Thanks to some resourceful Canadians.

Anyway, the trick will never be forgotten.

 

+1 on the starter solenoid.And make sure you disconnect the battery!