Hello all, I hope that maybe you folks could give me a opinion. I am looking at my neighbors 1987 Softail Custom for him. He has a intermittent starting problem. I started by testing the starter circuit by removing the green wire from the starter solenoid and putting one end of the volt meter to that wire then the other end to ground. I can hit that starter button all day, and it seems to register each time. Not when I pulled that wire, I noticed that the post on the solenoid for that wire was kinda loose. So I have decided to crack open the solenoid itself to take a look. It seems that the contact disk is really only worn in one area. Do you think its time for a solenoid rebuild? I see there are rebuild kits available. I have no idea if it has ever been replaced before. I do know she has 150K on the clock! Let me know what you think. Thanks for any and all help.

 

With the number of starts required to get to 150k I wouldn't bother trying to figure it out I'd just rebuild it.
But that's just me.

 

All ***** replacement solenoid, rebuild kits for those are less than optimal for any life and that ones had a good run at a buck fifty.

 

Don't replace the solenoid with one that's made in China. Good quality solenoids are made here in the USA or Brazil.

 

And the one from the dealer is made in China..... ain't that a beiotch...

 

Just wanted to follow up here. After some sound advice here, I ordered a All ***** solenoid. That is one nice quality piece! Seems to cured the starting problem. After that, new riser bushings and a oil change, my neighbor is a happy camper! Thank you everyone.

 

Good job with the all *****, my next solenoid also... just a note on a quick fix, the contacts can be cleaned and the disc can be flipped over to the unused side... This usually buys a lot of time.

 

Question: is there a retro-fit to the 87 evo solenoid that eliminates the start button by making a lever operated-by-hand "solenoid" ?

 

Yup there's a kit out that replaces the end cover on the evo solenoid that has a big spring loaded plunger button you can hit if the if the handlebar button gives it up , bypasses all the relays.

 

My aim is to s/c all the wires and get all button/switch stuff off the bars. I'd go back to kicker, and may yet, but both knees are getting a bit rickety... I may be stuck with electrostart, but at least it too can be simplified.