need educating,,,
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when i hit the starter button,, the "starter" kicks out and does not stay engaged turning the moter (sometimes)..
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i know i need to change out all battery/starter/soleniod cables, but somehow don't feel that low voltage would cause it to kick out and not stay engaged turing over the motor ?
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new battery, solenioid and voltage regulator last fall.
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any help in understand how the mechanics work, and possible causes for my issue would be appreciated.

OH, i took the starter apart and cleaned up the armature. The brushes looked ok (i think).....

thaks,,
marion..

 

It may be that the starter gear clutch is failing.
It can give you the symptom you describe.

 

cool, thanks for the quick reply,,,

hmm,, starter gear clutch ???
could i get a bit more info,,, like where it is, how to get to it, and how to best determine if it is the problem part....

thanks again...
mb

 

If the starter motor is spinning, but the engine is not turning over, the problem is likely the starter drive unit.

The starter drive unit, also known as a starter clutch or starter bendix is item 19 in the pic:

http://www.shopronniesharleydavidson...-10287-H080065

 

thanks for the info...
the "starter clutch or starter bendix" it is then...

it'll be a while before I get to it,, but hopefully I'll remember to follow up and let you know the fix,,
thanks again..
mb

 

I'm sure it's the Bendix drive gear also. Has your engine been kicking back against it sometimes? My FXR would kick back when I first got it and I went through 2 before I got it figured out the timing was too advanced. I also did all the cables and even tried to clean the Bendix. It will seem to be OK when you take it out but don't be fooled just replace it.

 

It's the bendix , don't waste you money on one of the cheap imports it'll fail fairly quick too .

BIG SAFETY TIP !!! disconnect your battery before you do anything inside the primary , the starter can engage if you move the bendix shaft around and people have lost fingers doing it .

 

many thanks for all the info...
it sure help to know i'm headed in the right direction..
mb

 

It's probably the low voltage. That at least is what should be fixed first. That (correct voltage) is what makes the electrical magnet (solenoid) pushes and holds it it in even on your 84. You do have a another relay solenoid that startes the starter motor spinning. However if you look at the starter switches in the parts on C4 thread you will see the solenoid that drives the lever and holds it in. If the voltage is not correct with correct amps the lever power will be way down. My diagram is for a later model like mine that only has the one solenoid that serves both functions of kicking it in and turning on the starter motion but the systems are similar.

 

Now to dispute what the others have said, but I don't have enough info.
Does the starter disengage but keep spinning? Or is it disengaging and shutting down?
could be as simple as just the small starter relay.