Starter clutch or compensator
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 897
Likes: 10
From: Oregon
you can't SEE anything wrong with a failed starter clutch. the issue is inside the gear itself as pictured above. change the damn thing and be done with it. matter of fact, I'm pretty sure on your year/model bike you could have changed the starter clutch without even opening the primary cover. the gasket and oil cost would have paid for the new starter clutch.
PS I STRONGLY recommend changing your transmission shifter shaft seal to a Cometic one while you have the inner primary off. the OEM are notorious for leaking and your right there. Its a real PITA to tear it back down to change that $3 seal.
PS I STRONGLY recommend changing your transmission shifter shaft seal to a Cometic one while you have the inner primary off. the OEM are notorious for leaking and your right there. Its a real PITA to tear it back down to change that $3 seal.
Last edited by OG1; May 30, 2016 at 08:30 PM.
you can't SEE anything wrong with a failed starter clutch. the issue is inside the gear itself as pictured above. change the damn thing and be done with it. matter of fact, I'm pretty sure on your year/model bike you could have changed the starter clutch without even opening the primary cover. the gasket and oil cost would have paid for the new starter clutch.
PS I STRONGLY recommend changing your transmission shifter shaft seal to a Cometic one while you have the inner primary off. the OEM are notorious for leaking and your right there. Its a real PITA to tear it back down to change that $3 seal.
PS I STRONGLY recommend changing your transmission shifter shaft seal to a Cometic one while you have the inner primary off. the OEM are notorious for leaking and your right there. Its a real PITA to tear it back down to change that $3 seal.
and thanks for the recommendation on the shifter shaft seal!
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 897
Likes: 10
From: Oregon
Originally Posted by sarpeezy
Eh, i was time for primary oil change anyways...and seeing in detail how my bike works never hurt anyone!
and thanks for the recommendation on the shifter shaft seal!
and thanks for the recommendation on the shifter shaft seal!
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
I have the same issue. '09 FLHTC. It's the starter cloth and the trans clutch. $119 for the starter clutch, $543 for the Trans clutch - about 2 to 3 hours labor. This is what was told to me yesterday by Dr. Bob at Chesapeake H-D in Darlington, MD. hit and miss on the starting, and now my bike is doing this more often then not. I'm going to see my mechanic at Shrewsbury Cycle in PA on Tuesday and have him take a look.
I have the same issue. '09 FLHTC. It's the starter cloth and the trans clutch. $119 for the starter clutch, $543 for the Trans clutch - about 2 to 3 hours labor. This is what was told to me yesterday by Dr. Bob at Chesapeake H-D in Darlington, MD. hit and miss on the starting, and now my bike is doing this more often then not. I'm going to see my mechanic at Shrewsbury Cycle in PA on Tuesday and have him take a look.
If you google the issue with probably same title, its usually ALWAYS either starter clutch or compensator...ive never heard of the actual clutch causing this..
Little update, i ordered a bunch of parts online and they all came in except for starter clutch.
So while I don't have a fix yet, I took the starter clutch out of the starter and the big gear in the middle does not feel right...I don't have the new one to compare it to, but it slides up and down the shaft with a little force...so I'm really hoping this is the cause of this.
On a side note, new lowered suspension and 30T pulley was installed today so it wasnt a terrible day overall!
So while I don't have a fix yet, I took the starter clutch out of the starter and the big gear in the middle does not feel right...I don't have the new one to compare it to, but it slides up and down the shaft with a little force...so I'm really hoping this is the cause of this.
On a side note, new lowered suspension and 30T pulley was installed today so it wasnt a terrible day overall!
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
I had the SE compensator installed last year, so agreed. I'm going to chat with my my mechanic on Tuesday. I'd like to do this repair myself, and I have the service manual for my bike, but cannot locate the repair in the manual.
Take the seat off
Take battery out
Take battery box off
Take off the 2 bolts holding the starter to the inner primary
Starter is off of the primary...
Bring the starter to a bench, and you will see the bolts you need to take off to open the sucker up
Once open, hit the gear that pops up (part of starter clutch, and it will just come out)
Put in new one.
Edit: Here is a video showing it on a soft tail...everything is the same except the we have the battery where they have the oil tank!