2010 FLHX Starter Issue
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 45
Likes: 5
From: Bloomingdale, NJ
I have a 2007 Flhtcu. I think that is what is happening with my bike. ( hot soak). Could mine be subject to it,
Just had a starter drive go out. Starter made a "RRRRRRRRR" sound because the gear on the starter drive spun freely after it failed and did not engage the jackshaft pinion (nothing happens inside the primary, so no grinding noise).
The grinding noise that the OP describes is consistent with a "hot soak" issue. When you shut the engine off when hot for about 5-10 minutes to get gas or whatever, the heads/exhaust actually heat up before starting to cool down, the hot soak. When trying to start the bike during the hot soak, it causes uncontrolled combustion of the incoming fuel charge inside the combustion chamber/exhaust, jamming the starter. If that's what is going on with the OP's bike, it will start right up every time after letting the engine cool another 10-15 minutes.
Only thing that I have found to eliminate this is installing manual compression releases, but it can be reduced/overcome with a well-maintained 310+CCA/20maH reserve capacity battery and a good cleaning of all contacts throughout the starting/grounding system and sometimes adding a second battery ground cable directly from the battery negative terminal to one of the starter mounting bolts can help. Also, fitting a 66 tooth starter gear to the clutch hub and a 9 tooth jack shaft pinion gear provides an easier load on the starter. Spyke sells this setup.
The name of the game here is to get as much current as possible to the starter (battery), reduce resistance to ground (cleaning connections), and placing an easier load on the starter (gear reduction).
The grinding noise that the OP describes is consistent with a "hot soak" issue. When you shut the engine off when hot for about 5-10 minutes to get gas or whatever, the heads/exhaust actually heat up before starting to cool down, the hot soak. When trying to start the bike during the hot soak, it causes uncontrolled combustion of the incoming fuel charge inside the combustion chamber/exhaust, jamming the starter. If that's what is going on with the OP's bike, it will start right up every time after letting the engine cool another 10-15 minutes.
Only thing that I have found to eliminate this is installing manual compression releases, but it can be reduced/overcome with a well-maintained 310+CCA/20maH reserve capacity battery and a good cleaning of all contacts throughout the starting/grounding system and sometimes adding a second battery ground cable directly from the battery negative terminal to one of the starter mounting bolts can help. Also, fitting a 66 tooth starter gear to the clutch hub and a 9 tooth jack shaft pinion gear provides an easier load on the starter. Spyke sells this setup.
The name of the game here is to get as much current as possible to the starter (battery), reduce resistance to ground (cleaning connections), and placing an easier load on the starter (gear reduction).
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Bigleaguecheew
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Sep 7, 2014 01:19 PM
