I just went for a ride, I was slowing down for a red light and felt a quick jerk. I took off from the light and noticed the battery light came on. I could then hear some grinding coming from the primary. I was able to get home, thankfully I was only about 3 miles away.

I shut the bike off and tried to restart it..battery dead. I am guessing the stator went out on me. The wird thing ie..My start button doesn't spring back when I depress it. Anyone ever had this happen?

I just pulled the outer primary cover off...I can't see any broken parts yet, but it smells a little nasty in there.

Thoughts?? 05 FXDWGI with a little over 20k

 

Thinking you are heading the right direction. I would keep going toward the rotor/stator.

 

"start button doesn't spring back" Sounds like you were riding with the starter engaged.Look at the bendix[starter drive gear] and the ring gear around the clutch basket.

 

I had the start switch go bad at the end of a long road trip a couple of summers back...did exactly what you are describing except I did not keep going when I heard the noise, I waited for the rear guard and trailered it back...both the run and start switches were AFU which took out the clutch basket...would have been worse if I had kept riding.

 

if the oil is real dirty and it has that awful smell I would think stator, that's how mine smelled, as for the switches I never had that happen yet (knock on wood).

 

Well, I tore it down, stator is a melted mess...I picked up a new on at HD Dealer. I will put it together after work Monday. As for the start switch, must have just been coincidence..I will tear that apart after the primary is back together. Also I will put in the Barnett clutch spring that I haven't gotten around to yet.