I'm trying to replace a starter on a 2003 Wide Glide. I have the battery and battery box off the bike and the 2 allen bolts that mount the starter are out. The battery cable connections are off the starter as well. Should this thing just slide out of the engine case from the right hand side? It's hung-up and it feels like whatever it's hung on is spring loaded. Do I need to pop the left side case cover off to remove the starter is it just bound up on the flywheel? Is pulling on the starter to free it or dislodge it a bad thing? How the hell does this come off the bike?

 

Remove cover
Disconnect battery cable and solenoid wire
Remove both starter mounting bolts and washers
Remove starter from right side of motorcycle.

According to the 07 manual

wt

 

Weasleteats is right. You'll have to remove the Primary cover, in addition to what you've already done.

There is a shaft (jackshaft) inside the primary with a gear on it that is pushed outward when the start button is pushed and engages the main gear on the clutch hub to spin the motor. That is actually bolted from the inside of the Primary and there is no way to get it off w/o draining the primary and removing the cover.

 

wt,
Thanks. The bendix (at least thats what they're called on a car) is hung up in the main ring gear. Afraid to force for fear of messing up that main ring. Crap. What now?

 

DGlide04,
Thanks. After looking at the new starter for gear attachment to the starter shaft I figured the primary cover had to be pulled.