about my 75 shovelhead

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Jul 14, 2013 | 07:46 AM

Kick Starter

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From: Brooklyn NY

about my 75 shovelhead

Ok first off would like to thank the creators of this forum. Ok lets start I have a 75 shovelhead now my problem is I did 60 over on my pistons and put a new battery and a new high torque starter my problem is my bike wont turn over with the push start and if I try kick starting it man im there for a hr or more if im lucky she might start. And if she does she is running rough. Any ideas

Jul 14, 2013 | 12:55 PM

grbrown

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From: Bedford UK

Does any part of the electrics work, like the lights and horn? Does the starter try to start, like do you get a click when pressing the starter button? Tell us as much detail as you can!

Jul 14, 2013 | 03:34 PM

Kick Starter

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Yea lights work horn works starter kicks over just its as if its not strong enough to start the bike and if I try kick starting it I get a kick back as if there is a hell of a lot of compression

Jul 15, 2013 | 04:29 AM

grbrown

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From: Bedford UK

At present, with your nice new pistons and rings not yet run in, the resistance they put up will add extra load on the starting system, including your leg! You will indeed have a lot more compression than before, especially if the engine was tired beforehand.

Your new battery and starter should be man enough, however there are a few things you can look into. A new battery is often described as 'fully charged' when new, however disconnect it and charge it overnight on a battery charger, which will truly fully charge it. In addition make sure both ends of the two main power cables are clean and tight, plus the other connectors on the starter circuit.

You may be suffering from low battery performance and power losses, which can be improved as described. Also, if your battery cables are old and your starter is higher power than stock, the cables themselves may not be able to deliver all the ooomph needed! I have just fitted a new battery and high power starter, plus thicker cables, to my own bike.

Hope that helps! When that thing bursts into life.......

Jul 15, 2013 | 04:53 AM

Kick Starter

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From: Brooklyn NY

Well I was thinking the same just didnt want to come out my brain im looking into changing my wiring around and have it setup like my 82 tour glide cause that bike starts with no problem and the wire setup looks cleaner

Jul 16, 2013 | 08:54 AM

Kick Starter

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Havent had the chance to work on the bike but do you think that wiring setup I said would work?

Jul 16, 2013 | 09:22 AM

grbrown

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From: Bedford UK

It sounds as if it is all working, but just not as well as it should! On an old bike, in which there may be several tired things such as the battery cables (mine were in poor shape), you are essentially chasing down places where there may be electrical power losses. The starter needs all it can get to turn over your newly built tight motor, but as the miles roll by the starting effort will reduce as the pistons and bores are run in.

There are a number of critical parts in the starter circuit, including the battery cables, starter solenoid wiring etc. A simple dismantle, clean and protective grease of each connector may give you the extra boost in power to get the motor turning over and started.

Electrical problems are often actually mechanical. In other words poor, loose, corroded mechanical connectors can increase electrical resistance and reduce the performance of the electrical things at the other end of the wire.