Starter Broke-91FXR

NMDave · #1 06-19-2008, 06:54 PM

this is the first time i have ahd my starter go out on any Harley (that's not true-i had it go out on my 79 FXEF but it had a kicker so i never skipped a beat and neverfixed it).
the starter has been going away for the past couple of years. At least i think that is what it is. Here's why\\;&nbsp\\;if i give it more juice&nbsp\\;like a new battery or a jump off my truck it will start. I bought a new gel battery from Harley a couple of years ago so i don't think that is the problem. Now a days it takles a long time with my truck running before the starter turns over. As it is&nbsp\\;i can hear the celenoid kick in right away and then a very faint click after that so i am thinking the starter is gone. If it is can anyone help me with removal, I sold my Clymer service manual&nbsp\\;when i needed some beer a&nbsp\\;year ago.&nbsp\\;is it hard to do this? Also does anyone have a line on this kind of starter, it has the celenoid&nbsp\\;as part of the starter.........Thanks in advance.
Dave&nbsp\\;

t150vej · #2 06-19-2008, 07:03 PM

Never had a prob with mine either, but from past experience....
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Often the contact plate in the solenoid will get arched and or corroded which won't allow enough contact area for the voltage to run through. All I ever saw - you could remove that copper plate from the shaft and turn it over. Bingo - brand new plate, but you have to clean the 2 posts (contacts) that it touches to make connection too.
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You may have serious starter problems, but I always check that first. Good luck

Jonnyrod · #3 06-19-2008, 07:07 PM

You can lap the plunger into the contact plates and it will get you by for a while. I would just skin the 60$ for a solenoid rebuild kit from a stealership and fix it right. You don't want that letting you down....you don't have a kicker anymore.

Ribcracker · #4 06-20-2008, 05:02 AM

also check your earths might be worth running a second cable down to one of the bolts where the starte mounts to the trans. Might be worth checking your jack shaft as well. Mine does this every now and again even with a new starter but then I am running a open belt drive and big motor.

NMDave · #5 06-22-2008, 12:40 PM

How does one flip the brass piece on the plunger in the selenoid?

Jonnyrod · #6 06-22-2008, 01:30 PM

You can't without destroying the whole plunger, that woud be too easy LOL.

NMDave · #7 06-22-2008, 08:28 PM

then why would..........how could......what should...............wtf

sqdealgeorge · #8 06-22-2008, 09:10 PM

Three years on a bat (glass mat style HD ) That is probably the life Does HD make a gel bat ?

Jonnyrod · #9 06-23-2008, 08:06 AM

Depending on how much you ride and the state of charge, three years is about right with an AGM batt. The AGM in my opinion is about the best bang for the buck right now. It has a fast recovery time and a little care will prove it to be good money spent. There are others out there with more cranking amps but unless it's 40 below you don't need it. Most of those high dollar batts with the big amps have a longer recovery time and that can leave you hanging if you are having issues starting a big motor.

Bossman1 · #10 06-23-2008, 08:11 AM

I certainly check battery and solenoid before changing the starter.. If you have had low voltage for a while it could be the starter,but do the whole check out first.